Adarkandelectrifyingnovelaboutaddiction,fanaticism,andwhatmightexistontheothersideoflife.InasmallNewEnglandtown,overhalfacenturyago,ashadowfallsoverasmallboyplayingwithhistoysoldiers.JamieMortonlooksuptoseeastrikingman,thenewminister.CharlesJacobs,alongwithhisbeautifulwife,willtransformthelocalchurch.ThemenandboysareallabitinlovewithMrs.Jacobs;thewomenandgirlsfeelthesameaboutReverendJacobs--includingJamie’smotherandbelovedsister,Claire.WithJamie,theReverendsharesadeeperbondbasedonasecretobsession.WhentragedystrikestheJacobsfamily,thischarismaticpreachercursesGod,mocksallreligiousbelief,andisbanishedfromtheshockedtown.Jamiehasdemonsofhisown.Wedtohisguitarfromtheageofthirteen,heplaysinbandsacrossthecountry,livingthenomadiclifestyleofbar-bandrockandrollwhilefleeingfromhisfamily’shorrificloss.Inhismid-thirties--addictedtoheroin,stranded,desperate--JamiemeetsCharlesJacobsagain,withprofoundconsequencesforbothmen.TheirbondbecomesapactbeyondeventheDevil’sdevising,andJamiediscoversthatrevivalhasmanymeanings.ThisrichanddisturbingnovelspansfivedecadesonitswaytothemostterrifyingconclusionStephenKinghaseverwritten.It’samasterpiecefromKing,inthegreatAmericantraditionofFrankNorris,NathanielHawthorne,andEdgarAllanPoe.
