The Terrible - (American Literature) by Michael Bible (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the author of Little Lazarus, Michael Bible's The Terrible moves between one man's memories of his past life as Ivan the Terrible's brother, and his present one as a father careening through modern American society.

When a writer returns to his hometown, he begins investigating the case of a beloved crossing guard, Wayne Self, who intentionally crashed his car and annihilated his entire family. The writer becomes obsessed with Wayne, who upon arrest claimed that he was the reincarnation of Yuri Vasilievich, the little brother of Ivan the Terrible. From interview transcripts, the writer pieces together Wayne's life.

The Terrible unfolds in the space between confession and delusion. Arrested and questioned, Wayne/Yuri tries to explain what happened--but instead offers a mythic, and often hilarious account of his life. Leaping between 16th century Russia and contemporary American absurdity, he recounts frozen bear attacks, boyars ripped apart by dogs, and an assault on a Captain America impersonator in Times Square.

Review Quotes

"Bible is spot on as he illuminates the patterns of calamity, how they radiate outward." --New York Times

"A wildly ambitious novel of lyrical beauty." --The Paris Review

"One of the most interesting and exciting new novelists in years" --Electric Literature

"Powerful, moving, heartbreaking. The prose is fantastic, but the heart is what drives this hundred-or-so-page novella." --Independent Book Review

"He's so open, so easy, so fluid, you'll smile with joy turning every page." --Barry Hannah, author of Airships

"Most contemporary fiction makes me wonder why people try to write anymore. Michael Bible helps me remember why." --Blake Butler, author of Molly

"Bible is a fantastic writer." --Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

About the Author

Michael Bible is the author of five novels including Little Lazarus and The Ancient Hours. Originally from North Carolina, he lives in New York City.