Matthew Neill Null, a West Virginia writer who is 42, has drawn attention with his latest novel, "Floodgate." The book is set entirely in Nicholas County during the construction of a hydroelectric dam near Summersville, a project completed under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
A Regional Setting Built on a Real Project
"Floodgate" uses a concrete historical event as its foundation. The dam was dedicated by Johnson on Sept. 6, 1966, and the novel's setting ties its story to that specific place and moment in West Virginia's industrial and political history. Because the construction is tied to a particular county and a particular federal-era project, the book gives readers a close look at one community rather than a generalized portrait of the state.
Presidential Words Within the Narrative
One chapter of the novel includes portions of Johnson's actual remarks from the dedication ceremony. Placing authentic public speech inside fiction allows Null to connect the personal experiences of his characters with the official rhetoric that accompanied large public works. The effect is to place the characters' lives alongside the broader story of federal investment in the region.
Why the Book Is Drawing Notice
Null's work has prompted speculation about Pulitzer potential, a claim that reflects critical interest rather than a formal award determination. Assessments of literary prizes remain forecasts, and readers should weigh such commentary as opinion. What is verifiable is the novel's setting, its historical anchor and its use of documented presidential remarks, which together define the book's distinctive approach.