Why people recommend it
They Came Like Swallows by William Maxwell is an exquisite autobiographical novel that captures the profound ripple effects of the 1918 influenza epidemic on a Midwestern family through the shifting perspectives of its members. On The Book Review podcast, John Williams shared that he discovered the book via an obituary after reading about the author's long tenure as a New Yorker editor. Pamela Paul repeatedly championed the novel over the years, calling it extraordinarily good and noting that it movingly addresses the tragic death of the narrator's mother during the 1918 pandemic. Margalit Fox similarly recalled being led directly to Maxwell's fiction after reading a rare full-page profile in the newspaper. A.O. Scott joined the podcast for a deep-dive conversation dedicated entirely to William Maxwell, discussing how They Came Like Swallows and other works like So Long, See You Tomorrow brilliantly utilized autobiographical memory. Scott and Paul explored the uncanny relevance of the 1918 setting, noting how the novel's historical backdrop resonated powerfully with modern readers. The podcast discussions consistently highlighted Maxwell's sparse, lyrical prose style and his uncanny ability to evoke the quiet devastation of childhood grief. Speakers returned to the book as a timeless masterwork of American fiction, praising its emotional restraint, structural brilliance, and enduring capacity to break a reader's heart.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Recommended
- AO Scott Discussed
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- Margalit Fox Discussed
John Williams — 2 mentions
“I had said that he was one of those obit reads for me one of those sort of dead people Word of Mouth where like I I read his obit he was a longtime editor at the New Yorker and then I immediately went out and uh I read they came like swallows”
“I happened to read they came like swallows which is Maxwell's 1937 novel about the 1918 influenza epidemic”
AO Scott — 2 mentions
“and it was almost like in so many of these books whether it's so long see you tomorrow or or time will darken it or they came like swallows or the late short Story collection”
“I mean maybe they came like smallow because of course we all know about that 1918 flu”
Pamela Paul — 2 mentions
“in my case I want to reread it right now but so long see you tomorrow and they came like swallows are probably the two of his best known books you mentioned earlier that time will darken it is your favorite”
“well I'm going to mention a book that I've mentioned at least four times on this podcast over the years but it is so good which is William Maxwell's they came like swallows which was about the 1918 pandemic specifically about his mother's death”
Margalit Fox — 1 mention
“and I think the first time I did this was with the times's full page now very rare but full page biography of William Maxwell which led me directly to they came like swallow”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- So long, see you tomorrow
- 2666
- A Child's Christmas in Wales
- After me comes the flood
- Ancestors
- Apollo's Arrow
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I first read William Maxwell they came like swallows after reading”
“there have been great very sad flu novels they came like swallows comes to mind by William Maxwell and many other ways in which you could explore this”
“have you read they came like swallows”