The Wapshot Chronicles

The Wapshot Chronicle is the debut novel of John Cheever, though the already-established author had more than a few excellent short stories under his belt. Based in part on Cheever’s childhood in New England, the novel follows the trials and tribulations of the Wapshot family living in the Massachusetts fishing village of St. Botolphs. More specifically, The Wapshot Chronicle seems focuses on brothers Moses and Coverely as they mature from boys to young adults and eventually men.

 The Wapshot Chronicle won the National Book Award in 1958 and is ranked 63rd on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. Perhaps more interesting — it was the first novel selected for the Book of the Month Club to include the word "fuck" in the narrative.

The Wapshot Chronicle is followed by its sequel The Wapshot Scandal (1964).

Harper and Brothers first published The Wapshot Chronicles in New York in 1957. The 307-page first editions are bound by green boards backed in black cloth with yellow and red lettering on the spine.