This well-preserved, beautiful softcover edition is in near fine condition, with no marks or tears, and only minimal shelf wear. The pages are tight and unmarked, and the book is tight, square, and unmarked. In the Beauty of the Lilies is a novel by John Updike, published in 1996 and awarded the 1997 Ambassador Book Award for Fiction. The title is taken from a line in the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Spanning four generations of the Wilmot family, the novel explores themes of faith, identity, and the changing American experience throughout the 20th century. Updike’s nuanced portrayal of the family's spiritual and cultural journey offers a profound commentary on American life, solidifying the novel as a major work in his literary canon.