Mavis Gallant was een Canadese auteur wier fictie en korte verhalen werden gekenmerkt door scherpe observatie en precieze taal. Haar werken, die vaak debuteerden in The New Yorker, verkenden de complexiteit van menselijke relaties en sociale dynamiek. Gallant, die een groot deel van haar leven in Frankrijk doorbracht, onderhield een sterke band met haar Canadese wortels, wat weerspiegeld werd in haar kenmerkende literaire stem. Haar vermogen om de subtiele nuances van de menselijke ervaring vast te leggen, verzekerde haar een plaats onder belangrijke Canadese literaire figuren.
Featuring fifty-two carefully chosen stories from the author's extensive body of work, this collection showcases her literary evolution and creativity. The preface offers insights into her artistic inspirations, providing readers with a deeper understanding of her storytelling journey.
A collection of fifty-two short stories, written between 1953 and 1995, by Mavis Gallant.
A collection of fifty-two stories of spare complexity, often pushing the boundaries of the form in boldly unconventional directions. It ranges from Paris to Berlin to Switzerland, from the Riviera to the Cote d'Azur, and features characters who are almost all exiles of one sort or another, as the author herself was the most of her expatriate life.
A collection of twenty short stories which originally appeared in the New Yorker during the 1950s and '60s.
Set against the backdrop of 1942, during the struggle against Fascism, this unique comedy explores the complex sentiments of Canadians who found themselves supporting both Stalin and the Royal Family. Mavis Gallant's only play delves into the contradictions of wartime allegiances, blending humor with the political tensions of the era. Through its characters and dialogue, the play captures the nuances of a divided society grappling with its ideals amidst global conflict.
Exploring the complexities of home and identity, Mavis Gallant's stories delve into the lives of individuals navigating their existence without a true sense of belonging. Set against the backdrop of Montreal, her birthplace, these narratives reflect her experiences and insights gained from living in Paris for over fifty years. Gallant's mastery of the international story captures the nuanced dilemmas faced by her characters, offering a profound examination of their struggles and the elusive nature of home.
'In this collection, we witness the miracle of a great writer's birth and brisk maturation, a blossoming incapable of withering, and that remains masterful and truthful today' Jhumpa Lahiri
Set against the backdrop of New York, this original work explores the intricacies of human relationships and the complexities of urban life. The narrative delves into the characters' emotional struggles and personal growth, highlighting themes of love, loss, and the search for identity. With rich prose and vivid imagery, the book captures the essence of the city while offering profound insights into the human experience. Its unique perspective and engaging storytelling make it a compelling read for those interested in contemporary literature.
A NEW YORK REVIEW BOOKS ORIGINAL Mavis Gallant is a contemporary legend, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker for close to fifty years who has, in the words of The New York Times, radically reshaped the short story for decade after decade. Michael Ondaatje's new selection of Gallant's work gathers some of the most memorable of her stories set in Europe and Paris, where Gallant has long lived. Mysterious, funny, insightful, and heartbreaking, these are tales of expatriates and exiles, wise children and straying saints. Together they compose a secret history, at once intimate and panoramic, of modern times.
With a foreword by Brandon Taylor. An elegant, melancholic novella about memory, family and the meaning of home. This is the tale of the fractured family life of Bonnie McCarthy, an American divorcée, and her daughter, Flor. Uprooted and unmoored, mother and daughter lead an itinerant existence - Venice, Canne and Paris as a backdrop - glamorous and dependent. When Flor attempts to flee this untidy life and the oppressive rule of her eccentric mother, she instead succumbs to a gradual decline into insanity. Green Water, Green Sky was Mavis Gallant's debut novel and is a quietly dazzling example of her masterful shifts in narrative perspective and her visceral exploration of displacement and exile. 'A very intense piece of writing, very dark, but light and absurd at the same time . . . [Gallant's] body of work is unique and profound; I don't think there will be another quite like her.' Jhumpa Lahiri