From Library Journal This novel about settlers on the Ohio frontier at the time of the War of 1812 is cast in the form of a personal journal. The diarist is Thomas Keene， a former Maine minister who has lost his faith and who is seeking something in which to believe. Two other people dominate his journal: Fanny Cooper， a young widow with whom Keene has fallen in love， and the eccentric John Chapman， better known now as the legendary Johnny Appleseed. The terse journal format is well suited to convey the hardships of the frontier， where sudden death through accident， illness， or Indi an attack was omnipresent; but it is less effective in conveying the personalities of its characters. Even so， this is a worthwhile novel and one to recom mend to readers who enjoyed Conrad Richter's This Awakening Land (1966). Charles Michaud， Turner Free Lib.， Randolph， Mass.Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information， Inc. David McCullough "The Tree of Life is one of the most powerful， original， and disturbing books that I have read in a long time. Hugh Nissenson has caught the voice of the old-time diary keeper just exactly. It's uncanny， marvelous， so direct and deceptively simple that you know what pains he has taken. The book is a work of art and no one who reads it will ever forget it." --This text refers to the Paperback edition. See all Editorial Reviews