So Much to Give by Carlton Randolph Crane is an epic American saga about the nation’s greatest generation.

The United States of America is a country rich in history and narratives. In particular, the Great Depression Era and World War II are two chapters that forged great generations of Americans. They helped shape the values and grit that we shaped many great men and women of American history. Today, we will present a historical fiction novel that will take us back in time, when American families were shaped by political turmoil, economic crisis, and a World War that claimed thousands of lives and shaped the course of the nation’s history. Today’s book feature is the book titled So Much to Give by Carlton Randolph Crane.

So Much To Give: A Story of America’s Greatest Generation is about American families and the historical events that shaped them and this great nation.

So Much To Give: A Story of America’s Greatest Generation is the complete title of Carlton Randolph Crane’s debut novel published in 1996. It is a historical fiction that centers on the Collie Family, a small family from the small East Texas town of Coalville. Set during the Depression-era of the 1930s and the height of political upheavals worldwide (Fascism, Communism, Nazi, Dictatorship, Imperialism, and various forms of socialist states), including the Second World War, Crane’s narrative portrays the struggle and hardships of an ordinary American family. The Collies take us through the hard times and how they persevered against racism, murder, personal tragedies, and the horrors of war and eventually become part of America’s Greatest Generation.

Crane’s epic narrative, which spans multiple generations, inspires us to look at American history and the values of the generations that built this nation.

Cranes epic historical novel does not end with So Much to Give. Last year, Carlton Randolph Crane released a semi-sequel to his debut novel. Time Enough to Cry: The Children of the Greatest Generation came twenty-five years after the first novel’s release. The book centers on the three children of the main characters from So Much to Give. The timeline moves forward to the present day and narrates the lives of these offspring during the fifties, sixties, seventies, and eighties. It also highlights how three women from vastly different walks of life meet three men during the height of the Vietnam War from 1968 through 1970. Time Enough to Cry: The Children of the Greatest Generation tackles more personal issues such as heartaches, tragedies, happiness, and finally, their love. Although a semi-sequel, the book can be read as a stand-alone novel.

About the Carlton Randolph Crane

Carlton Randolph Crane was born and raised in the Piney Woods of East Texas. He attended in was then Arlington State College. However, war broke out, and Carlton had to serve in the army. He served honorably for four years in the United States Army Security Agency for four years before he was discharged in Florida in 1967. In 1968, Carlton met and married Barbara Jean Orne. Their marriage produced two sons.

Carlton pursued his college education while building his family. He went back to school on the GI Bill and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1972. After college, he set out to build a career as a Software Engineer for the banking industry.

Carlton Randolph Crane has been married to Barbara Jean for fifty-three years now. Aside from their two sons, they also have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Crane is now retired and lives in Arlington, Texas. He enjoys his free time reading, writing, traveling, good movies, and photography.