Elizabeth McCracken Knihy

"This is the happiest story in the world with the saddest ending," writes Elizabeth McCracken in her powerful, inspiring memoir. A prize-winning, successful novelist in her 30s, McCracken was happy to be an itinerant writer and self-proclaimed spinster. But suddenly she fell in love, got married, and two years ago was living in a remote part of France, working on her novel, and waiting for the birth of her first child. This book is about what happened next. In her ninth month of pregnancy, she learned that her baby boy had died. How do you deal with and recover from this kind of loss? Of course you don't--but you go on. And if you have ever experienced loss or love someone who has, the company of this remarkable book will help you go on. With humor and warmth and unfailing generosity, McCracken considers the nature of love and grief. She opens her heart and leaves all of ours the richer for it.

From the author of the beloved novel The Giant's House - finalist for the National Book Award - comes a beautiful new story collection, her first in twenty years.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE GIANT'S HOUSE 'A big, glorious novel in every sense, this sprawling family saga...is a funny and big-hearted epic from a seriously gifted wordsmith' Marie Claire Bertha is an enigma to everyone in Salford, Massachusetts - ever since she was discovered unconscious in a New England cemetery with nothing but a bowling ball, a candlepin and fifteen pounds of gold on her person. She has no past to speak of, and her mysterious origin scandalises the townspeople, as does her choice to marry and start a family with Leviticus Sprague, the doctor who revived her. But Bertha is plucky and entrepreneurial, and the bowling alley she opens quickly becomes Salford's most defining landmark. As she changes the town forever, her singular spirit resonating through every board and brick and bone, an epic family saga unfolds, set against the backdrop of twentieth-century America.

Ten months after her mother's death, the narrator of The Hero of This Book walks across London on a quiet Sunday. The city was a favourite of her mother's, and as the narrator wanders the streets, she finds herself reflecting on her mother's life and their relationship. Thoughts of the past meld with questions of the future- back in New England, the family home is now up for sale, its considerable contents already winnowed. The woman, a writer, recalls all that made her complicated mother extraordinary - her brilliant wit, her generosity, her unbelievable obstinacy, her sheer will in seizing life despite physical difficulties - and finds herself wondering how her mother had endured. Even though she wants to respect her mother's nearly pathological sense of privacy, the woman must come to terms with whether making a chronicle of this remarkable life constitutes an act of love or betrayal.

Exploring the complexities of love and loss, this novel weaves humor with poignant moments, showcasing the author's signature style. Set against the backdrop of Niagara Falls, it delves into the lives of its characters, revealing their intertwined fates and emotional journeys. With a blend of grace and insight, the narrative captures the beauty of human connections and the inevitability of change, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate rich storytelling.

In James, Peggy discovers the one person who's ever really understood her, and as he grows - six foot five at age twelve, then seven foot, then eight - so does her heart and their most singular romance.

One of the most acclaimed writers of our day, award-winning author Elizabeth McCracken is an undisputed virtuoso of the short story, and this new collection features her most vibrant and heartrending work to date. In these stories, the mysterious bonds of family are tested, transformed, fractured, and fortified.

Focusing on preserving cultural legacy, this hardcover edition is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series, which revives classical literature that has been largely unavailable for decades. It aims to promote timeless works from over two thousand years of literary history, ensuring that these significant texts are accessible to modern readers. By supporting this series, readers contribute to the mission of saving remarkable works of world literature from being forgotten, making them available in print once more.