John C Gardner
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John Gardner's essential collection encompassing the fundamentals of fiction writing. In this posthumously published collection of his essays and reviews, acclaimed novelist John Gardner discusses the craft of fiction writing, taking to task some of his best-known contemporaries in the process. Gardner criticizes some for writing disingenuous fiction, and commends others who produce literature that acts as a life-affirming force. He offers insights...
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John Gardner's acclaimed search for the lost morality in art and literature Novelist John Gardner's thesis in On Moral Fiction is simple: "True art is by its nature moral." It is also an audacious statement, as Gardner asserts an inherent value in life and in art. Since the book's first publication, the passion behind Gardner's assertion has both provoked and inspired readers. In examining the work of his peers, Gardner analyzes what has gone...
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Now back in print after forty years: The first novel in John Gardner's bestselling series of Victorian crime thrillers pitting Sherlock Holmes against the Napoleon of crime, Professor James Moriarty.
Once again, the game is afoot... What really happened in Switzerland between Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes in 1891? And, why is Holmes, now in London at 221B Baker Street, curiously uncooperative with Scotland Yard's inquiries? Furthermore, why has Moriarty...
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The bestselling story of a king's crusade to vanquish the Devil and to defeat the monster in each of us. A visiting lecturer is lured to the remote, gothic mansion of an estranged professor and his only son, who is described as a monster. But soon, the visitor enters an enchanting new world when he begins reading the son's hidden manuscript. Part history, part myth, the story conjures a sixteenth-century Sweden in which good and evil clash for the...
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John Gardner's sweeping portrait of the collision of opposing philosophical perspectives in 1960s America, centering on the appearance of a mysterious stranger in a small upstate New York town. One summer day, a countercultural drifter known only as the Sunlight Man appears in Batavia, New York. Jailed for painting the word "LOVE" across two lanes of traffic, the Sunlight Man encounters Fred Clumly, a sixty-four-year-old town sheriff. Throughout the...
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A wonderful exploration into the maturation process across the course of human life. Laid to waste by drink, Agathon, a seer, is a shell of a man. He sits imprisoned with his apprentice, Peeker, for his presumed involvement in a rebellion against the Spartan tyrant Lykourgos. Confined to a cell, the men produce extraordinary writings that illustrate the stories of their lives and give witness to Agathon's deterioration and the growth of Peeker from...
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One man's search for personal grace in a town plagued by misfortune. Henry Soames runs a diner in an eccentric rural community in the Catskills. He is anxious and overweight, and at age forty-two, suffers from poor health. When Callie Wells, Soames's seventeen-year-old employee, is impregnated by a local boy on his way to college, it becomes apparent that both are in need of a little help. After an unsuccessful attempt to find Callie a husband, Henry...
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John Gardner's fairy-tale collection depicts a world where anything can happen - and often does. A humble thistle girl, a wise old philosopher, a hapless woodchopper, and an unscrupulous king - these are the vivid protagonists of Gardner's masterful book for children. Richly and humorously drawn, they face challenges at every turn. And in a realm where any one of these unconventional heroes might triumph, the reader will delight in expecting the unexpected!...
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Four tales of fantasy by a twentieth-century literary master - selected as the 1975 New York Times Outstanding Book for Children. John Gardner's first children's book takes the traditional fairy tale and turns it on its head. In the title story, a meddlesome dragon meets his match. "The Tailor and the Giant" tells the story of a cowardly man who finally faces his fears. A villainous beast of burden attempts to rid himself of his master in "The Miller's...
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Now back in print after forty years: The second novel in John Gardner's bestselling series of Victorian crime thrillers pitting Sherlock Holmes against the Napoleon of crime, Professor James Moriarty.
With riches accumulated from an American crime spree, Professor Moriarty proceeds to annihilate his enemies. He murders the leaders of Europe's underworld one by one, then prepares his most hideous revenge for his arch-enemy, Sherlock Holmes. Will he...
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John Gardner's classic exploration of the creative processes and career paths of modern fiction writers. In this essential guide, John Gardner advises the aspiring fiction author on such topics as the value of creative writing workshops, the developmental stages of literary growth, and the inevitable experience of writer's block. Drawn from his two decades of experience in creative writing, Gardner balances his compassion for his students with his...
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An intricately woven fable filled with magical creatures - and astonishing surprises. In this wonderful fantasy, John Gardner weaves tales within tales to bring a magical world to vivid life. When three travelers on their way to the Suicide Mountains meet an enigmatic man, the Abbot of the Ancient Monastery, they begin a series of wild adventures in which they must confront mystical creatures - and come to terms with the roles fate has determined...
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The pinnacle of Gardner's medieval scholarship: a fascinating re-creation of the world of one of history's greatest writers. In this exquisite biography, John Gardner brings to life Geoffrey Chaucer, illuminating his writings and their inspiration like never before. Through exhaustive research and expert storytelling, Gardner takes readers through Chaucer's varied career - from writing The Canterbury Tales to performing diplomatic work at the Parliament...
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A special three-in-one edition of celebrated author John Gardner's explorations of modern fiction: On Becoming a Novelist, On Writers & Writing, and On Moral Fiction In On Becoming a Novelist, John Gardner advises the aspiring fiction author on such topics as the value of creative writing workshops, the developmental stages of literary growth, and the inevitable experience of writer's block. Drawn from his two decades of experience in creative...
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Gardner's relentlessly honest and moving portrayal of a broken marriage, and his ambitious unfinished masterpiece - a metafictional mystery centering around one man's struggle to recover his lost identity - together in one accomplished volume. Stillness: Martin and Joan Orrick - distant cousins who have known each other since early childhood - are in the final throes of a failing marriage. Martin is a compulsive drinker who obsesses about his writing,...
16) Jason & Medeia
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A mythological masterpiece about dedication and the disintegration of romantic affection. In this magnificent epic poem, John Gardner renders his interpretation of the ancient story of Jason and Medeia. Confined in the palace of King Creon, and longing to return to his rightful kingdom Iolcus, Jason asks his wife, the sorceress Medeia, to use her powers of enchantment to destroy the tyrant King Pelias. Out of love she acquiesces, only to find that...
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An iconic collection that showcases Gardner as a master craftsman navigating an uncertain world In this exceptional book, author John Gardner explores the literary form as a vehicle of vision, and creates heroes that personify his tremendous artistic ideals: A Boston schoolmaster abandons his dreams of owning a farmhouse in rural Illinois only to be taken on a voyage across the seas and into self-discovery, faith, and love; an artist's rapturous enthusiasm...
18) The Resurrection
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A passionate portrait of a family's attempts to understand the meaning behind personal tragedy. When Professor James Chandler learns he is dying from leukemia, he moves his family to his childhood home in Batavia, New York. There, surrounded by loved ones - both new and old - the immediacy of Chandler's illness strikes them with new force, and the limitations of his mortality become painfully clear. Rich and moving, and imbued with insight, The Resurrection...
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An inspired book of short stories that explores the profound relationship between life and art. While mourning the loss of his son in the Vietnam War, an Italian chef reflects on the importance of art for future generations. An American boy retreats inward after he kills his younger brother in a farming accident, finding solace in classical music and a friendship with his teacher. Placing the artist at the center of his stories, Gardner produces a...
20) October Light
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John Gardner's New York Times bestselling, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning metafictional novel centering on the tumultuous relationship of two elderly siblings. James is a cantankerous and conservative seventy-two-year-old who has spent his life caring for the animals on his farm. His widowed older sister, Sally, has strong liberal ideals and a propensity for debate. When Sally's bankruptcy forces her to move in with her brother, their...