Wallace Stegner's Crossing to Safety is lauded for its profound exploration of friendship, rich character development, and eloquent prose, making it a standout in American literature. Some critique its slow pacing and lack of dramatic plot, but overall, it is celebrated for its introspective and heartfelt narrative.

A reader who appreciates Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner is likely drawn to literary fiction exploring deep human relationships and life's complexities. They might enjoy the introspective nature found in works like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith or the nuanced friendships in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner is a semi-autobiographical novel revolving around two academic couples, Larry and Sally Morgan and Sidney and Charity Lang, as they navigate their intertwined lives from the Great Depression to the late 20th century, exploring themes of youth, idealism, and compromise. The novel uses flashbacks through Larry’s perspective to depict academic struggles, social dynamics, and personal challenges such as illness.

Wallace Stegner

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Crossing to Safety reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Crossing to Safety | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Crossing to Safety and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Crossing to Safety Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Crossing to Safety Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Crossing to Safety Part 1, Chapters 4-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 7-9

Crossing to Safety Part 1, Chapters 7-9 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 10-11

Crossing to Safety Part 1, Chapters 10-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 12-13

Crossing to Safety Part 1, Chapters 12-13 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 1-3

Crossing to Safety Part 2, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 4-5

Crossing to Safety Part 2, Chapters 4-5 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 1-2

Crossing to Safety Part 3, Chapters 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 3-4

Crossing to Safety Part 3, Chapters 3-4 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Crossing to Safety Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Crossing to Safety Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Crossing to Safety Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Crossing to Safety Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Crossing to Safety Essay Topics

Crossing to Safety

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Crossing to Safety?

Reading Age

Book Details