The Fate of Others - by Richard Bausch (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A new collection of short stories examining the extraordinary shades of ordinary life, from the prize-winning fiction writer Richard Bausch ("A master of the short story" --The New York Times Book Review)

In these twelve new stories, Richard Bausch explores the passions of men and women facing unex­pected circumstances and the complications of modern life and love. In the novella "Donnaiolo," for instance, the parents of a young divorcée who has returned from Italy and a failed marriage must deal with the completely different, and unappealing, person she has become. In "Isolation," a happily married woman who has con­ceived an unexpected passion for another man learns, in lockdown during the pandemic, that this man--into whose life Bausch also gives us a window--has become ill with Covid. In a second novella, "Broken House," an elderly Catholic man recalls his part in the destruction of an old farmhouse by altar boys who believed a monk had given them permission to destroy it--while also portraying his lifelong fascination with one of the boys, a gifted artist who has carried a secret for decades about the church they both wanted to serve as priests. And in still another story, "The Widow's Tale," a woman whose recently killed husband repeatedly visits her younger sister in dreams attends a séance.

Throughout The Fate of Others, Bausch once again exposes the virtues and flaws of his characters, remind­ing us, as the best stories do, of ourselves and people we know, and the lives we lead.

Review Quotes

"Bausch exhibits a mastery of cringe-inducing and sometimes heartbreaking miscommunication, as his characters talk to each other at cross-purposes. These insightful stories pack a punch."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Richly imagined, deeply felt, and filled with the sort of context that distinguishes [The Fate of Others] from minimalism. . . . Classic craftsmanship meets contemporary shell-shock." --Kirkus (starred review)

"Bausch's latest collection showcases the revered writer still at the sharpest of his craft after a long career." --Alta

"[The Fate of Others] delivers the piecing character studies and musical prose that readers have come to expect. . . . The characters' emotions are palpable and visceral. Throughout this strong collection, Bausch sensitively portrays the human condition in all its richly diverse manifestations." --Booklist

About the Author

RICHARD BAUSCH has produced nine other volumes of stories, and is a widely acknowledged master of the form. He is a recipient of both the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story and the Rea Award for the Short Story. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies, including The Pushcart Prize, The O. Henry Awards, The Best American Short Stories, The Granta Book of the American Short Story, The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction, and The Norton Anthology. He is also the author of thirteen novels, including Peace; Before, During, After; and Playhouse. In addition, there have been three full-length motion pictures made from his work. He is currently with the Writing Faculty of Chapman University in Orange, California.