Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance Hardcover - 2009

by Garrison Keillor

Wobegon goesabroad in thisrousing andmoving story ofa group trip toRome

Margie Krebsbach dreams up the idea of a trip to Rome, hopingto get her husband Carl to make love to her-he's been sleepingacross the hall and she has no idea why. She finds a patrioticpurpose for the journey. A Lake Wobegon boy, Gussy Norlander,died in the liberation of Rome, 1944, and his grave, according tohis elderly brother, Norbert, is in a neglected weed patch nearthe Colosseum. So it's decided they will go to clean Gussy's finalresting place. Margie is unprepared for the enthusiastic response-fifty people want to go with her, including her nemesis, the mayorof Lake Wobegon, Carl's bossy sister, Eloise, Mr. Berge the towndrunk, and her treacherous mother-in-law. Margie fends off someof the would-be travelers with a graphic handout on the dangers oftyphus and food poisoning and the seriousness of diarrhea, but tenapplicants remain, though Carl is not sure he wants to go after all.At this, a heartbroken Margie gets the motley crew to the airportand aboard the plane, and then discovers one of the secret pleasuresof travel-safely away from Lake Wobegon, the pilgrims' memoriesare quickened and they recall long-forgotten incidents. In thewarm circle of kinship, as they enter alien territory, they tell storiesof astonishing frankness and self-revelation all delivered withKeillor's trademark humor.