The Distance from Slaughter County

“Steven Moore’s nuanced, hypnotic essays about growing up in the Midwest balance nostalgia with critique, sharing childhood memories that were formative to his identity . . . . If 'estrangement toward place … is an estrangement toward self,' these essays, with their sensitive probing of geographical identities, chart the way back to harmony.”—Foreword Reviews (starred review)

“A series of impressionistic essays on the culture and history of middle America...Moore incisively catalogs the ironies and complexities of the Midwest. It’s a subtle yet effective eye-opener.”—Publishers Weekly

“This is a stunning collection of essays, one that I would not only enjoy rereading but one I might someday teach. Moore writes focused and mobile narratives capable of embarking upon satisfying digressions and vigorous wanderings. I look forward to reading more of his work.”—Matthew Vollmer, author of All of Us Together in the End

“Mr. Moore is to be congratulated on the beauty and meaningfulness of this work. The Distance from Slaughter County is one of the most thought-provoking considerations of how place shapes us and how we, in turn, shape place that I have ever read. Every reader will learn something about the complexities of the Midwest from this book, even those who have always lived there, and that’s a big part of its magic.”—Sarah Einstein, author of Mot: A Memoir