The Secrets of a Fire King - Softcover

Edwards, Kim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312195540 ISBN 13: 9780312195540

Publisher: Picador, 1998

Synopsis

The characters in these stories are often separated from the mainstream - a juggler and a trapeze artist, a daughter whose mother is a public evangelist waging a wear against sin, a cleaning woman whose life is inexplicably tied to Marie Curie's. The stories they inhabit transcend the barriers of time to explore the universally driving force of our experience: the magnitude of human love. In "Spring, Mountain, Sea" a young American brings his Korean bride home after serving in the war, and finds himself isolated from both his own culture and the culture of his new family. In "Gold" a Malaysian rubber tapper becomes obsessed with the possibility of becoming as wealthy as the foreign landowners who visit his village, and in his quest for gold nearly destroys the enduring relationships that have shaped his life. In the title story, the narrator - a fire-eater in a circus - shows a careless disregard for a boy who comes to learn his trade and as a consequence brings about his own downfall. Taking us to exotic and remote places in America, Europe, and Asia, "The Secrets of a Fire King" is at once magical and profound, marking the extraordinary debut of a new voice in American fiction.

About this title

Review:

"Impeccable, a treasure...[Kim Edwards] shows herself to be a fully realized writer.... Edwards's brilliance is evident in the way she constructs a story." --Patricia Lear, "The Chicago Tribune""[An] accomplished first collection.... The Secrets of a Fire King gives eloquence to their astonishing range of discoveries, and leaves the reader entranced."--Nina Sonenberg, "The New York Times Book Review" "Striking...powerful."--Amanda Heller, "The Boston Globe""Stunning...[Edwards's] sinuous prose and endless empathy work their spell....Radiant, original, and passionate, these are memorable stories." --Andrea Barrett, author of "Ship Fever"

About the Author:

Kim Edwards's stories have appeared in "The Paris Review," "Antaeus," and "Story "and have been anthologized in "The Best American Short Stories "and "The Pushcart Prize." She lives in Lexington, Kentucky.

About this edition

• Publisher: Picador
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0312195540
• ISBN 13: 9780312195540
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 234