42 pages • 1 hour read
Pat ConroyThe Water Is Wide: A Memoir
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1972A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
First published in 1972, Pat Conroy's memoir The Water Is Wide recounts his experiences teaching on Yamacraw Island off the South Carolina coast. Young teacher Pat Conroy, avoiding the Vietnam War draft, finds a community of children starved for knowledge and uses innovative methods to engage them, leading to conflicts with traditional educational authorities. The book contains descriptions of corporal punishment and racism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy is praised for its evocative storytelling and meaningful exploration of racial and educational challenges in the 1960s South. Critics laud Conroy's heartfelt narration and vivid descriptions, though some argue the book's tone can be overly sentimental. Overall, it stands as a poignant and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Water Is Wide?
Readers who enjoy The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy typically appreciate poignant narratives of social justice and educational reform. Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Educated by Tara Westover will find similar themes of challenging societal norms and personal growth within a community setting.