**The piercing, iconic semi-autobiographical novel of a domineering father and ambitious son, from the #1 *New York Times *bestselling author of *The Prince of Tides***Step into the powerhouse life of Bull Meecham. He's all Marine--fighter pilot, king of the clouds, and absolute ruler of his family. Lillian is his wife--beautiful, southern-bred, with a core of velvet steel. Without her cool head, her kids would be in real trouble. Ben is the oldest, a born athlete whose best never satisfies the big man. Ben's got to stand up, even fight back, against a father who doesn't give in--not to his men, not to his wife, and certainly not to his son. Bull Meecham is undoubtedly Pat Conroy's most explosive character--a man you should hate, but a man you will love.**Praise for *The Great Santini**** * *"Stinging authenticity . . . a book that won't quit."**--*The Atlanta Journal**** * *"[Pat] Conroy has captured a different slice of America in this funny, dramatic novel."**--*Richmond News-Leader**** *"Conroy takes aim at our darkest emotions, lets the arrow fly and hits the bull's-eye almost every time."**--*Milwaukee Journal Sentinel**** * *"Robust and vivid . . . full of feeling."--*Newsday** *"God preserve Pat Conroy."**--*The Boston Globe***words : 174515