Harmony of the World

by Charles Baxter

Book Overview

From the winner of the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story and "one of our most gifted writers" (Chicago Tribune)--these ten stories show make everyday experiences seem utterly unprecedented, even as Baxter reminds us, gently and with a sly comic twist, that everything they feel is only the collateral damage of being human.

Whether he is writing about the players in a rickety bisexual love triangle or a woman visiting...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679776516
• ISBN13: 9780679776512
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

with a little disharmony as well

Originally published in 1984, this collection features Baxter's least middle-class, most internally-troubled characters. They are senile, depressed, chronically lonely. The finale, "The Crank" is a gorgeous study of plot. The recently divorced protagonist's interactions with a similarly lonely guru are magical and uplifting. Baxter went on to mature considerably in terms of craft, but these stories are emotionally generous and smart.

Another winner from Baxter

Sifting through "Harmony of the World" is like panning for gold. Each page is an exercise in patience and endurance, but when you happen upon a nugget of Baxter's comical insight or warm compassion, you know you've struck it rich. Baxter does a wonderful job of balancing intelligence, humor, and believable characters. The title story alone is worth the price.