Hearts in Atlantis

Published: 1999

Hearts in Atlantis (1999) is a collection of five interconnected novellas chronicling the impact of the Vietnam War and 1960s counterculture on several characters whose lives intersect over decades. 'Low Men in Yellow Coats' follows eleven-year-old Bobby Garfield in 1960, who befriends Ted Brautigan, an elderly man with psychic abilities being pursued by agents of the Crimson King from King's Dark Tower series. 'Hearts in Atlantis' centers on college freshman Pete Riley in 1966, whose scholarship is threatened by his addiction to the card game Hearts amid growing campus anti-war protests. 'Blind Willie' and 'Why We're in Vietnam' follow Vietnam veterans dealing with trauma and guilt in different ways during the 1980s. The collection concludes with 'Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling,' returning to Bobby Garfield as an adult in 1999, providing closure to relationships from the first story. The book represents King's most direct fictional examination of Vietnam's shadow over American society, blending realistic historical fiction with subtle connections to his Dark Tower mythology. Critics praised King's emotional depth and historical perspective, with many considering it among his most literary achievements. The 2001 film adaptation focused primarily on the first novella, starring Anthony Hopkins as Ted Brautigan. King has described Hearts in Atlantis as deeply personal, drawing on his own experiences coming of age during the Vietnam era and his complex feelings about American society's transformation during that period. For readers, the collection stands as one of King's most politically engaged works, exploring how historical forces shape individual lives while maintaining his characteristic emotional resonance and subtle supernatural elements. The book's connection to the Dark Tower series through the character of Ted Brautigan and the Low Men adds dimension for constant readers while remaining accessible to those unfamiliar with King's larger mythology.

Themes

• Vietnam War
• Coming of age
• 1960s counterculture
• Guilt
• Loss of innocence

Adaptations

• 2001 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Anton Yelchin (adapting primarily the first novella)

Collector Notes

Contains significant connections to King's Dark Tower series through the character of Ted Brautigan and the Low Men. Represents King's most direct fictional examination of the Vietnam War's impact on American society.