The Leatherwood God

The Leatherwood God is a novel written by William Dean Howells. The story is set in the late 19th century in the rural town of Leatherwood, Ohio. The protagonist, Reverend John Carradine, is a young and idealistic minister who is sent to Leatherwood to take charge of the local church. However, he soon discovers that the town is deeply divided between the conservative and the progressive factions, and that the church is in a state of disrepair.Carradine’s attempts to bring the two factions together and revitalize the church are complicated by the presence of a mysterious and charismatic preacher named Asa Skinner. Skinner claims to have received a divine revelation and has gathered a large following of devoted believers who believe he is a prophet of God. Carradine is initially skeptical of Skinner’s claims, but as he gets to know him better, he begins to question his own faith and beliefs.The novel explores themes of religious faith, doubt, and the conflict between tradition and progress. It also delves into the complexities of human relationships and the power dynamics that exist within a community. The Leatherwood God is a thought-provoking and nuanced work of fiction that offers a unique perspective on the religious and social landscape of rural America in the late 19th century.''What makes you say all-powerful? Haven’t you seen time and time again when good didn’t prevail against evil, and don’t you suppose He’d have helped it if He could? And why do you call Him all-wise? Is it because men are no-wise? That wouldn’t prove it, would it? And about the miracles, what does a miracle prove? Does it prove that the person who does it is of God, or just that faith is stronger than reason in those who think it’s happened?''This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.