Look Unto the Land

“Look Unto the Land is a compelling story that comes to life thanks to the impeccable research, complex yet realistic characters, and engaging descriptions that also made Adams’ first two novels such enjoyable experiences! Adams examines greed, hate, and loss, all while somehow enchanting the reader with key characters’ selfless acts of goodness and kindness that leave room for hope. Throw in some mystery and some surprise endings and twists that leave you thinking “how did he make that happen”—and you have a first-class page turner!! Highly recommended!” – Amazon reviewer

“With fascinating characters and multiple connected storylines, Look Unto the Land is an almost cinematic depiction of the Arkansas oil boom of the 1920s. George Rollie Adams combines his amazing gift for language with a deep understanding of the history, place, and people of the time to create a story that is as entertaining as it is historically important. This book is truly stunning.” – Amazon reviewer

"Adams knows how to tell a good story with memorable characters and evocative locales. Look Unto the Land serves up a meaningful tale of loss and love in turbulent times with page-turning style." -  Celeste Schantz, Editor, Mason Street Review

"The author's characters move in a world as dark as the oil field setting, which he has researched with astonishing fidelity. He so effectively recreates his scenes that reading them leaves you feeling almost drenched in oil. In this book, a little-known period of history comes alive." - Gerald George, past director, American Association for State and Local History, author of Figments and A Penitential Prayer: Poems of the Holocaust

"I loved this book. Look Unto the Land is a compelling mix of history, suspense, small town life, family dynamics, greed, hate, love, and hope. Woven throughout are a quest for justice and a moving love story. Adams’ characters make you want to cheer or jeer—they are complicated and unforgettable." – Amazon reviewer

"A riveting story that combines elements of mystery and romance while weaving industrial expansion, environmental degradation, race relations, and associated themes into a masterful tapestry of daily life in the rural South." - Susan Asbury, Assistant Professor of Public History, Middle Georgia State University, contributor to Midwestern Folklore and Folklore and Museums

"Look Unto the Land is a captivating tale of love and hate during the raucous and tumultuous 1920s oil boom in South Arkansas. Adams captures the essence of the time with skill and authenticity." - David F. Rankin, President Emeritus, Southern Arkansas University, author of What Every American Needs to Know about Economics  

"Look Upon the Land pulls from the epic history of one of the largest oil booms in the United States to create a sweeping story of romance and revenge." - Samantha Bynum, past curator, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources

"Drawing on deep historical research and keen knowledge of everyday life in the 1920s, Adams blends a well-paced, entertaining story with issues of deep relevance today, including environmental justice, racism, and the negative impact of unregulated capitalism." - Timothy W. Kneeland, Chair of History, Politics, and Law, Nazareth College, author of Declaring Disaster: Buffalo's Blizzard of '77 and the Creation of FEMA