FATHERLAND

A tale of the American dream on the rocks. A legacy of broken promises, deceit, and perseverance against the backdrop of family commitment.

Critics re Fatherland:

 “Written with the same absorbing authenticity as works by Ann Napolitano, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler, Shorr’s compassionate rendition of divorce’s devastation depicts a wife’s betrayal, a daughter’s denial, and a husband’s selfishness with piercing accuracy.”

―Booklist (starred review)

“This spectacular portrait of abandonment against the backdrop of the Rust Belt’s decline over the second half of the 20th century.”
—Kirkus Review

 I recently finished Victoria Shorr’s novel Fatherland and found myself sitting in silence for a few minutes after turning the final page, thinking, “this is why I read fiction.” Set in a midcentury Midwestern suburb, the novel traces the long aftermath of a father’s abandonment of his family, unfolding less through traditional scenes and more through reflection and interiority. Read my full review.

--Lisa Duncan, Fog and Fiction

https://fogfiction.com/2026/03/24/victoria-shorr-fatherland/

“I’m hooked on [Victoria Shorr’s] gorgeous prose.”
—John Densmore, drummer for The Doors, author of Riders on the Storm

“[Victoria Shorr’s] words thrill my mind and soul.”
—Libby Titus Fagen, singer, songwriter