The Song of Daniel

by Philip Lee Williams

Book Overview

Philip Lee Williams makes the tale of a cemetary groundskeeper come alive with his lyrical storytelling. In the tradition of his award-winning novel The Heart of a Distant Forest , Philip Lee Williams... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0934601755
• ISBN13: 9780934601757
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

a touching story

... I set out to read one of his earlier novels - a touching piece entitled The Song of Daniel. It was a very heartfelt and sincere story about a young man named Daniel Mitchell, living in a world of his own. It was a peaceful life - an escape from reality that he created for himself, after he had been exposed to unspeakable violence in his early childhood. This realm of Daniel's remains untouched, until he meets worldly and somewhat cynical Rebecca. As a result, they learn much from each other. In this masterpiece, Williams has conveyed Daniel's thoughts, vulnerabilities, and deepest fears with such an indescribable intricacy that puts us in his shoes. Finally Daniel deals with the uprising of his past in his own way. I really enjoyed this book.

A hauntingly memorable novel

I read Song of Daniel some years ago, and I still think of it with wonder. The plot is moving, the characters unforgettable, and the writing tender and loving. In fact, the book is the best sort of "southern" novel. To a southerner, that does not mean that the book is about the South, although Williams' evocations of the southern setting are loving and poetic. Rather, the southern novel seems to distinguish itself by the author's love of language. Williams' voice is gentle, beautiful, and touching--sometimes to the point that it evokes tears. But don't think that the book is maudlin. The tenderness is genuine, authentic. Of special interest to those familiar with the marvelous (and largely forgotten) Georgia poet, Byron Herbert Reece, a subplot involves the research of a University of Georgia professor into just such a Georgia mountain poet. Song of Daniel gripped and moved me as few books ever have. Its power over the imagination and the emotions is so great that I have not reread it yet: after perhaps ten years, it is still too strong in my memory. But it holds a special place among those books that I _will_ reread. Although they are very different writers, the only southern novelist I would compare with Williams (based on this book) is Walker Percy, and that's the highest praise I can offer. Buy this book and take it to a quiet place.

read this

I love the song of daniel. when you read it, you feel like you are sitting next to daniel in the cemetary, the details are so vivid. it's the first book I've ever read that I literally couldn't put down. I read it in one day, and would recommend it to anyone who needs to read a book they will never forget.

"Song of Daniel" By Philip Lee Williams

A wonderfully written book about life and innocence and finding oneself. Wonderful imagery. The characters were extremely likable. It was especially interesting to me because I grew up in Athens, Georgia and visited the cemetery often, so I could really relate to the scenery set in this book.