Heritage of Smoke
Josip Novakovich
(Author)
Description
Short story writer, novelist and essayist Josip Novakovich returns with his first collection of stories since being named a finalist for the prestigious 2013 Man Booker International Prize. In Ex-Yu, he explores the major themes of war and exile, of religiosity and existentialism, that have defined his fiction and earned him a place among the pantheon of international writers addressing contemporary literature's most pressing questions. Masterpieces such "Honey in the Carcase", "White Mustache", and "Acorns", unflinching in their humanity and realism, take us into the brutal despair of the Bosnian War. In between, dry humor and world-weary wisdom infuse such exile preoccupations as soccer, terrorism, and cigarettes. Taken together, this latest collection comprises a bravely intelligent mosaic of what it means to be torn from one's country and one's self.Product Details
Price
$16.95
$15.76
Publisher
Dzanc Books
Publish Date
January 10, 2017
Pages
256
Dimensions
5.4 X 0.7 X 8.4 inches | 0.65 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781941088661
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Josip Novakovich is a Croatian Canadian writer and the author of sixteen books, including short story collections, collections of narrative essays, and a novel. His work has been translated into Croatian, Bulgarian, Indonesian, Russian, Japanese, Italian, and French, among other languages. He has also published hundreds of short stories, poems, and essays in American and international journals and anthologies. He teaches English at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Reviews
"Novakovich's language is always supple. Strange, lyrical beauty abounds here."
--New York Times Book Review "A host of characters grapple with the legacy of war, religious obsessions, surreal instances of violence, and an enduring guilt.... These often haunting stories of violence, faith, and disconnection make for a memorable voyage into a number of unsettled minds."
--Kirkus Reviews "Novakovich's bruising and beautiful short stories cast new light on the experience of war and exile. A potent and intoxicating brew of comedy and tragedy. Heritage of Smoke is an exquisite work of short fiction by a master of the form."
--Laila Lalami, author of The Moor's Account "Some grim historical realities haunt many of the stories in this extraordinary collection. Sometimes with dark humor but always with an understanding eye toward his characters, Novakovich illuminates darkness more humanely than any writer since Chekhov."
--Jim Heynen, author of The Boys' House and Fishing for Chickens "In the visionary prose of Novakovich, the Balkans are a toxic mix of medieval primitiveness and modern technology. Novakovich tells stories of individuals suffering against this background of regional catastrophe. He reveals reveal the worst things people can do to each other in the absolutely best way."
--Melvin Jules Bukiet, author of Strange Fire and Undertown
--New York Times Book Review "A host of characters grapple with the legacy of war, religious obsessions, surreal instances of violence, and an enduring guilt.... These often haunting stories of violence, faith, and disconnection make for a memorable voyage into a number of unsettled minds."
--Kirkus Reviews "Novakovich's bruising and beautiful short stories cast new light on the experience of war and exile. A potent and intoxicating brew of comedy and tragedy. Heritage of Smoke is an exquisite work of short fiction by a master of the form."
--Laila Lalami, author of The Moor's Account "Some grim historical realities haunt many of the stories in this extraordinary collection. Sometimes with dark humor but always with an understanding eye toward his characters, Novakovich illuminates darkness more humanely than any writer since Chekhov."
--Jim Heynen, author of The Boys' House and Fishing for Chickens "In the visionary prose of Novakovich, the Balkans are a toxic mix of medieval primitiveness and modern technology. Novakovich tells stories of individuals suffering against this background of regional catastrophe. He reveals reveal the worst things people can do to each other in the absolutely best way."
--Melvin Jules Bukiet, author of Strange Fire and Undertown
