David Means is een Amerikaanse auteur wiens korte verhalen vaak de sfeer van het Amerikaanse Midden-Westen en industriële regio's vastleggen, evenals het leven langs de Hudson River. Zijn werken staan bekend om hun scherpe inzichten in de menselijke psyche en complexe interpersoonlijke relaties. Means gebruikt meesterlijk detail en sfeer om indrukwekkende literaire beelden te creëren die resoneren bij lezers.
Following the publication of his widely acclaimed, Man Booker-nominated novel Hystopia, David Means returns to his signature form: the short story. Instructions for a Funeral finds a universally admired practitioner in newly expansive territory.
Set in an old blacksmith shed, three men delve into the complexities of a failed bank robbery. As they unravel the details, their discussions reveal not only the intricacies of the crime but also their personal motivations and relationships. The narrative explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the consequences of choices made under pressure, offering a gripping look at the aftermath of a heist gone wrong.
Celebrated for its diverse range of voices and experiences, this collection of stories spans various locations across America. Garnering prestigious accolades such as the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and a nomination for the National Book Critics Circle Award, it has earned significant critical acclaim, solidifying its status as one of the finest story collections of the era.
THE SPOT is an old blacksmith shed in which a gang of men tweeze apart the intricacies of a botched bank robbery. THE SPOT is at the bottom of Niagara Falls, where the body of a young girl floats as if caught in the tangled currents of her own tragic story.
The Secret Goldfish showcases David Means' exceptional storytelling through a series of vivid short stories. It features a trio of adventurous kids involved in a crime spree, a goldfish observing the unraveling of a marriage, and a man plagued by a series of lightning strikes. This collection highlights Means' unique vision and mastery of the short form, solidifying his reputation among contemporary American writers.
"A new collection of stories by the visionary 'master of the form' (The Observer), David Means"-- Provided by publisher
In his masterful story 'A River in Egypt', David Means paints a portrait of a moment. Cavanaugh and his young son are suspended; trapped in what a nurse calls 'the sweat chamber', where the boy will be tested for cystic fibrosis. Cavanaugh has brought distractions - spasmodic action figures, malformed toy trucks - but they do little to alter the frustration of the sick child screaming, or to alleviate the anxiety of the time spent waiting for 'some exactitude in the form of a diagnosis'.
At the bitter end of the 1960s, after surviving multiple assassination attempts, President John F Kennedy has created a vast federal agency, the Psych Corps, dedicated to maintaining the nation's mental hygiene by any means necessary. This book presents a destabilized, alternate version of American history.
David Means präsentiert drei magische Geschichten, in denen ein Chirurg nach der Trennung von seiner Frau, zwei Außenseiter auf einer gefährlichen Reise und ein Theologiestudent in einer Affäre mit einer Verheirateten die Komplexität widersprüchlicher Wahrnehmungen eindrucksvoll erkunden.