Jane Smiley

Early Warning

This trilogy is dedicated to John Whiston,

Bill Silag, Steve Mortensen, and Jack Canning,

with many thanks for decades of patience, laughter,

insight, information, and assistance.

~ ~ ~

The Langdons

Walter Langdon (1895)

Wilmer Langdon — Walter’s father

Elizabeth Chick — Walter’s mother

Ruth Cheek and Lester Chick — Walter’s maternal grandparents

Etta Cheek — mother of Ruth Cheek

Lester and Howard — Walter’s brothers

Rosanna Vogel Langdon (1900)—Walter’s wife

Otto Vogel — Rosanna’s father

Mary Augsberger — Rosanna’s mother

Charlotta Kleinfelder — Otto’s mother

Hermannand Augustina Augsberger (“Opa” and “Oma”) — Rosanna’s maternal grandparents

Rolf, Eloise, John, Gus, and Kurt — Rosanna’s siblings

Julius Silber — Eloise’s husband

Rosa — Eloise and Julius’s daughter

Elton Jackman — Rosa’s first husband, Lacey’s father

Lacey — Rosa and Elton’s daughter

Ross — Eloise’s second husband

Shelia — John’s wife

Gary, Buddy, Jimmy — John and Sheila’s sons

Angela — Gus’s wife

Francis “Frank” Langdon—first child of Walter and Rosanna

Hildegarde Andrea Bergstrom “Andy”—Frank’s wife

Janet — Frank and Andy’s eldest daughter

Jared Nelson — Janet’s husband

Emily — Janet and Jared’s daughter

Richard “Richie”andMichael — Frank and Andy’s twin sons

Ivy — Richie’s wife

Loretta Perroni — Michael’s wife

Chance, Tia, Beatrice “Binky”—Michael and Loretta’s children

Joseph “Joe” Langdon—second child of Walter and Rosanna

Lois Frederick — Joe’s wife

Roland and Lorena Frederick — Lois’s parents

Minnie — Lois’s sister

Ann “Annie” and Joseph “Jesse”—Joe and Lois’s children

Jennifer Guthrie — Jesse’s wife

Joseph “Guthrie” and Franklin Perkins “Perky”—Jesse and Jennifer’s sons

Mary Elizabeth Langdon—third child of Walter and Rosanna

Lillian Elizabeth Langdon—fourth child of Walter and Rosanna

Arthur Brinks Manning — Lillian’s husband

Sarah Cole DeRocher and Colonel Brinks Manning — Arthur’s parents

Timothy “Timmy,” Deborah “Debbie,” Dean Henry, and Christina Eloise “Tina”—Lillian and

Arthur’s children

Hugh — Debbie’s husband

Carlie and Kevin “Kevvie”—Debbie and Hugh’s children

Linda — Dean’s wife

Eric — Dean and Linda’s son

Henry—fifth child of Walter and Rosanna

Claire—sixth child of Walter and Rosanna

Paul Darnell — Claire’s husband

Grayson and Bradley — Claire and Paul’s sons

1953