"Seen from the air, the seemingly endless spaces that form America's Midwest appear in rectangular variations of brown, green, and ochre, with what Michael Martone calls "the tended look of a train set." In these essays, the flatness of the region becomes the author's canvas for a richly textured, multidimensional exploration of midwestern culture and history. Martone's memorable accounts of his experiences lead us on a path toward discovery of the stories that build our own sense of place and color our understanding of the world."--BOOK JACKET.