Connecticut, the southernmost state in the New England region of the United States, has long been a muse for novelists.
With its picturesque settings ranging from serene coastal towns to idyllic countryside, the state provides a backdrop for a variety of literary works.
Here is a selection of novels set in Connecticut:
First on our journey through Connecticut’s fictional landscapes is Mark Twain’s satirical classic, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.”
The novel follows Hank Morgan, a 19th-century resident of Hartford, Connecticut, who is inexplicably transported back in time to the court of King Arthur.
Through his adventures, Twain humorously critiques the incongruities of romanticized chivalry and the societal pitfalls of his own era with biting satire.
Twain’s own residence in Hartford undoubtedly played a role in shaping his perspective on the society he lampooned so effectively.
Connecticut’s idyllic suburban facade is cleverly subverted in Ira Levin’s “The Stepford Wives.”
Set in the fictional town of Stepford, the novel explores the eerie transformation of independent-minded women into docile housewives, sparking fears about the loss of identity and autonomy.
Levin’s narrative contemplates the dark underbelly of the pursuit of perfection in the American suburbs.
“The Ice Storm” by Rick Moody is a vivid portrayal of two suburban Connecticut families in the 1970s.
The novel captures the period’s aura of social disillusionment against the backdrop of a looming ice storm.
As the weather intensifies, so do the emotional crises faced by the characters, leading to a climax as chilling as the storm itself.
Richard Yates’s “Revolutionary Road” is set in 1950s Connecticut and tells the tragic story of the Wheelers, a couple living in the suburbs who dream of escaping their mundane existence for something greater.
Their journey is fraught with disillusionment and self-deception, painting a somber portrait of post-war American idealism gone awry.
Another of Yates’s works, “A Good School,” traces the experiences of impressionable boys at a fictional Connecticut prep school during World War II.
The novel is rich with details drawn from the author’s own experiences and delves into the coming-of-age themes of isolation, identity, and the loss of innocence.
Shifting to a historical novel for younger readers, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare is set in 17th-century Connecticut.
It follows the spirited Katherine Tyler, known as Kit, whose unconventional ways land her in trouble with the puritanical community, culminating in accusations of witchcraft.
This novel vividly brings to life the tensions and fears of colonial New England.
E. L. Konigsburg’s beloved children’s novel, “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,” revolves around two siblings who run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York but are ultimately connected back to their home in Connecticut.
Their journey is not only an escape from suburban life but also an inquiry into art, history, and personal discovery.
In Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much Is True,” the fictional town of Three Rivers, Connecticut, serves as the backdrop for a tale of twin brothers, one of whom suffers from schizophrenia.
This poignant narrative deals with heavy themes of family duty, mental illness, and the quest for identity.
Returning to the subject of post-war America, Sloan Wilson’s “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” introduces us to Tom Rath, a Connecticut suburbanite struggling to find purpose amidst societal pressures to conform.
The novel probes the psychological and familial conflicts that brewed beneath the polite veneer of the 1950s middle-class experience.
Cynthia Voigt’s “Homecoming” chronicles the journey of four siblings who, upon being abandoned by their mother in a mall parking lot, embark on a quest to find a place where they belong.
Their trek across Connecticut to find their great-aunt is as much about physical endurance as it is about the resilience of family bonds.
Thomas Tryon’s psychological horror novel, “The Other,” invites readers to the pastoral setting of Pequot Landing, Connecticut, where the seemingly innocent lives of twin brothers conceal dark and deadly secrets.
The serene Connecticut countryside becomes the stage for an unsettling exploration of the duality of human nature.
“The Man on the Bench in the Barn” is a detective novel by Georges Simenon featuring his famous Inspector Maigret.
In this case, Maigret travels to Connecticut to unravel the mysterious death of a Frenchman, crossing paths with the affluent and eccentric inhabitants who provide as much color to the setting as the New England countryside itself.
Jodi Picoult’s “Small Great Things” is set in a Connecticut hospital where an African-American nurse faces the charges of murder and negligence after the death of a newborn under her care.
The novel grapples with race, privilege, and justice within the context of a deeply divided society.
Ocean Vuong’s semi-autobiographical novel, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” is a lyrical exploration of a young man’s coming of age as the son of Vietnamese immigrants in Hartford, Connecticut.
The narrative is woven through letters written to his mother and provides a raw and intense look at family, identity, and survival.
Lauren Oliver’s “Before I Fall” takes us to a fictional high school in Connecticut, where popular student Samantha Kingston relives the last day of her life repeatedly, uncovering the impact of her actions and the meaning of true value.
It’s a compelling look at the transformative power of second chances and the ripples we create in the lives of others.