44 pages • 1 hour read
William MaxwellSo Long, See You Tomorrow
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1980A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell recounts the narrator’s reflections on a childhood friendship in Lincoln, Illinois, disrupted by a tragic murder/suicide. The narrator feels lifelong regret for not speaking to his friend Cletus after the tragedy involving Cletus’s father. He reconstructs the events leading to the crime, exploring family instability, father-son relationships, and the impact of memories and fiction. It contains a death by suicide and human and animal abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
William Maxwell's So Long, See You Tomorrow is universally praised for its poignant exploration of memory and loss. Critics laud its lyrical prose and emotional depth but note the nonlinear narrative can be challenging. Some find it slow-paced, but the novel's rich characterization and profound themes ultimately leave a lasting impact.
Who Should Read So Long, See You Tomorrow?
A reader who enjoys So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell is likely drawn to introspective and emotionally complex narratives. Fans of works like Marilynne Robinson's Gilead or Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day will appreciate the novel's reflective tone, intricate character studies, and exploration of memory and regret.