The Origin of the Brunists
Cover of the 1st edition
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| Author | Robert Coover |
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| Cover artist | Ben Feder |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1966 (Putnam) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 441 |
| Followed by | The Brunist Day of Wrath |
The Origin of the Brunists is Robert Coover's first novel. It tells the story of Giovanni Bruno, the lone survivor of a mine disaster that killed 97 of his co-workers, and the apocalyptic cult that forms around him.
The main action of the novel is set in and around the fictional town of West Condon. The disaster in the novel is closely based on the 1951 coal mine explosion in West Frankfort, Illinois.
In 2014, Coover published a sequel, The Brunist Day of Wrath, set five years later.
The Origin of the Brunists was first published by Putnam. Initially, however, the book was not released. The novel's editor had problems getting the dust jacket, then Putnam fired the editor and rejected the novel. The book was listed as an alternate selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, but those who ordered it were told it was "temporarily out of print". When the novel won the Washington Post award for best first novel, Coover, upon contacting Putnam, was told "Yes, we've heard, but let's understand one thing right now, we are not spending another goddamned nickel on this book, is that clear?" Copies were made available, but the book would not earn back its $2000 advance.
It was published (1967, 1971) in paperback by Ballantine, and then republished (1978) in hardcover by Viking, paperback by Bantam, following the qualified success and notoriety of The Public Burning.
The End of the World is scheduled for the weekend, 18th and 19 April. The Brunists, trying to dodge media attention and hostile neighbors, engage in a reckless run on dark narrow roads, and one of their cars goes off into a ditch, killing Marcella Bruno, the sister of Giovanni.
On the evening of January 8, the night shift is beginning at Deepwater Number 9 mine. An explosion traps 98 miners. By the time rescue workers finish, they find only one miner still alive, Giovanni Bruno, but in a coma from carbon monoxide poisoning. A note from one of the miners, popular lay preacher Ely Collins is recovered, addressed to his wife:
I dissobayed and I know I must Die. Listen allways to the Holy Spirit in your Harts Abide in Grace . We will stand Together befor Our Lord the 8th of
The Nortons, Wylie and Eleanor, have moved frequently. Eleanor's gift for over a decade has been to communicate with various spirits, the main one named Domiron, and this has always led to harassment until they leave. Eleanor is disturbed that she did not receive any clear warning of the mine disaster.
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