8.2 /10 1 Votes
Cover artist George Hall Language English ISBN 0-395-24297-5 Genre Autobiographical Fiction Followed by The Lords of Discipline | 4.1/5 Goodreads Country United States Pages 536 Originally published 1976 Page count 536 Preceded by The Water Is Wide | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback) Similar Works by Pat Conroy, Fiction books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Great Santini is a novel written by Pat Conroy and published in 1976.
Contents
Plot summary
Hard-nosed Marine fighter pilot Lt. Col. Wilbur "Bull" Meecham calls himself "The Great Santini". He runs his family with a strict hand. In 1962 before the Vietnam War, the Meecham family struggles to fit into the Marine town of Beaufort, South Carolina where they are newcomers. Conroy makes the point that Santini is a warrior without a war, and in turn is at war alternately with the service that he loves and his family.
The novel explores main character Ben Meecham's growth into manhood, his experiences playing basketball for his high school, as well as his friendships with a Jewish classmate and an African-American farmer. The novel exposes the love-hate relationship between Ben and his father, and the lengths Ben goes to in an effort to win his father's acceptance and love.
Film adaptation
The novel was made into a film of the same name in 1979, starring Robert Duvall in the title role.