Festival Days

Jo Ann Beard is a well-known writer who has published several books, including "The Fourth State of Matter" and "Festival Days." Her latest book, "Festival Days," is a collection of nine pieces that capture the small, luminous moments of daily existence and those instants when life and death hang in the balance. Beard's writing is praised for its combination of fiction and reportage, and her book is considered a masterpiece by critics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

A New York Times Notable Book, a Boston Globe and LitHub Best Book of the Year, Jo Ann Beard's The Fourth State of Matter was published in The New Yorker. This remarkable piece, which delves into a workplace massacre at the University of Iowa, catapulted Beard to the forefront of American literature, paving the way for a new generation of young authors to blend fiction with the rigors of memory and reportage. In her latest offering, Festival Days, Beard showcases her unparalleled talent with nine captivating pieces that capture the essence of daily life, as well as moments of profound significance. From the poignant death of a beloved dog to a harrowing account of a New York artist trapped in a burning building, and two triumphant short fiction pieces, this unforgettable collection invites readers to engage in thought-provoking debates and embrace its timeless themes. Anchored by the title piece, a searing journey through India that explores questions of mortality and love, Festival Days showcases Beard at the height of her powers, employing her flawless prose to unveil the tender and enduring aspects of human existence beneath the modern way of life.

Weight: 240g
Dimension: 208 x 138 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780316497220