Debra Adelaide's new collection of short stories intricately maps both the sublime and the mundane landscape of ordinary lives, with her trademark dark wit and luminous intelligence.
In 'Glory in the Flower', distinguished but disillusioned British poet, Bill, crosses the world on the promise of a prestigious literary festival only to find himself roughing it with an unlikely group of amateur poets, with surprising results. One man's attempt to negotiate the Australian taxation system reads like a noir thriller in 'The Pirate Map', and the minefield of internet dating explored in 'Chance' artfully balances the absurd and the dark side of the human psyche. 'Harder than Your Husband' follows a serious-minded administrator as he attempts to navigate the induction of a new, and rather perplexing, employee. And the final eclipsing story, 'Letter to George Clooney', opens a door into a world of terror and deprivation: searing in its devastating restraint, it demonstrates why Adelaide is one of the finest Australian writers of her generation.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE KIBBLE LITERARY AWARD 2014
Debra Adelaide is the author of several novels, including The Household Guide to Dying (2008), which was sold around the world, Serpent Dust (1998) and The Hotel Albatross (1995). She is also the editor of several themed collections of fiction and memoirs, including Acts of Dog (2003) and the bestselling Motherlove series (1996-1998). As well as a creative writer she has also been a freelance researcher, editor, book reviewer and literary award judge, and is now associate professor at the University of Technology, Sydney where she teaches creative writing.
ISBN:
9781742613093
Binding:
Paperback
Pub. Date:
01/09/2013
Category:
Short Stories
Imprint:
Picador Australia
Pages:
304 page/s
Stock:
In stock
Price:
$24.99 AUD