Full Breakdown
Richard Russo’s “Under the Falls” Returns to a Forgotten Town
8/25/2026, 8:23:23 AM
Overview of the New Novel
Richard Russo, the Pulitzer-winning author of *Empire Falls*, has released his latest work, *Under the Falls*. The novel revisits the fictional community of Stone Mountain, a setting modeled on the real town of Caroga Lake near Gloversville, New York. The story follows Tyler Sinclair, a fictional Nashville singer-songwriter who returns to his hometown after years away, confronting local violence, police corruption and the opioid crisis that have reshaped the area.
Russo’s Literary Journey and Recent Work
Russo’s career spans ten novels, a Pulitzer Prize, and several screen adaptations, including the television version of *Empire Falls*. At 77, he continues to write, describing the new book as a “fourth-decade” effort that feels essential to him. *Under the Falls* originated as a television script before being expanded into a novel, a process Russo explained as converting screenplay pages with abundant white space into fully-fledged prose.
Setting and Themes
Stone Mountain represents places “left behind,” where residents lack reliable economic opportunities. Russo likens the fictional town’s struggles to those of actual upstate New York communities that have seen amusement parks close and jobs disappear. The novel intertwines personal ambition—embodied by Tyler’s rise from a small-town guitarist to a Nashville star—with broader social issues such as opioid addiction and institutional decay. Russo also explores who has the authority to tell a place’s story, noting that both his fictional protagonist and himself face criticism from locals who feel misrepresented.
Reception and Community Response
When Russo referenced the real name Gloversville in his memoir *Elsewhere*, some longtime readers reacted angrily, accusing him of exploiting their hometown for personal success. Similar resentment is reflected in the novel, where Tyler encounters hostility from townspeople questioning his motives for returning. Russo’s daughters, Emily and Kate, continue the family’s literary involvement: Emily co-owns a Portland, Maine bookstore that stocks Kate’s novels and artwork.
Data & Statistics
- Ten published novels, including the Pulitzer-winning *Empire Falls*.
- *Under the Falls* released roughly 40 years after Russo’s debut novel.
- Russo’s age: 77.
The novel blends thriller elements with a portrait of economic decline, offering both a personal and societal examination of America’s “left-behind” towns.
