Purity) returns with a sweeping and masterly examination of the shifting culture of early 1970s America, the first in a trilogy. The action is centered on the small Indiana town of New Prospect, where the each of the Hildebrandts is experiencing a sea change. The father, Russ, is an associate minister at First Reformed Church and has developed an illicit attraction to a new parishioner, the widow Frances Cottrell, whose zest for life makes Russ feel a renewed sense of his âedge.â Russ is also embroiled in a yearslong feud with Rick Ambrose, who runs the churchâs youth organization, Crossroads. Clem, Russâs oldest son, is at college and having a sexual awakening with his girlfriend, Sharon, who pleads with him not to drop out and lose his deferment (âIâm going to do whatever they want me to do, which probably means Vietnam,â he says, referencing his low lottery number). Becky, Clemâs younger sister, inherits a large sum of money from an aunt and