Arcadia - Groff, Lauren

''Stunningly sensual and visceral'' NEW YORK TIMES''Smart, beautiful . . . paints a lyrical picture'' STYLIST''Groff is a sensuous writer'' GUARDIANIn the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House, a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land. Abe and Hannah''s only child, Bit, is born into the commune soon after its creation. He grows up there, becoming deeply attached to its way of life and everyone within it, in particular the beautiful but troubled Helle. While the commune rises and falls, Bit, too, ages and changes. But when it''s time to find a way to live in the world beyond Arcadia, will he be able to let go of the past to forge a new start?''An exquisite tale of idealism and disintegration . . . Utterly absorbing'' MARIE CLAIRE''Intricately wrought . . . A powerful pean to the human desire to make the right sort of place live'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH''Arcadia is stunningly sensual and visceral in describing behaviour straight out of a time capsule . . . A shimmering evocation of the commune''s heyday'' NEW YORK TIMES