Man Overboard: A Tale of Divine Compassion - Softcover

Denny, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 162564454X ISBN 13: 9781625644541

Publisher: Wipf and Stock, 2013

Synopsis

In this suite of dramatic monologues, David Denny reimagines the ancient folktale of Jonah by listening to the voices of its many characters. Jonah and God, of course, remain the two principal players, to be sure. But in Man Overboard we also hear from the sailors of the Tarshish-bound cargo carrier, the storm that overtakes them, the great fish who gives sanctuary to the irascible prophet, indeed the ocean itself, as well as the merchants, courtiers, plants, animals, and king of Nineveh. Drawing upon a close reading of the biblical text, the Jewish tradition of Midrash, and a healthy dose of playful imagination, Denny draws the reader into the story's emotional journey. His poems evoke the concrete reality of the landscape and culture of the historical Near East, while highlighting the central spiritual lessons the tale continues to convey in the postmodern world. The result is a lyric rendition of a classic tale that will appeal to general readers as well as biblical scholars and literary aficionados.

About this title

About the Author

David Denny is the author of Fool in the Attic (Aldrich Press, 2013) and Plebeian on the Front Porch (Finishing Line Press, 2012). His poems and short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Atlanta Review, California Quarterly, Iodine Poetry Journal, Pearl, and The Sun. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Oregon and an MAT degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is Professor of English at De Anza College.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 162564454X
• ISBN 13: 9781625644541
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 60