The amalgamation polka book

After a significant pause during which this particular morsel was scrutinized from every possible angle, monday turned gravely about and said, i been hearing about this freedom business as long as rabbits got ears, and i have one question for you, mister liberty. Editions of the amalgamation polka by stephen wright. The latest novel from the author of meditations in green my top book of the year for 2003, this book is based on a picture drawn during the 1800s that shows africanamerican men dancing with high society white women with the caption the amalgamation polka. The amalgamation polka by stephen wright, paperback. His last book, the amalgamation polka, appeared in. The amalgamation polka is the fourth novel from stephen wright and his first in more than 10 years. The amalgamation polka vintage contemporaries paperback june 12, 2007 by stephen wright author. Buy the amalgamation polka by stephen wright online at alibris. Liberty fish is born in 1844 to an uncommon set of parents. Born in 1844 in bucolic upstate new york, liberty fish is the son of fervent abolitionists as well as the grandson of carolina slaveholders even more dedicated to their cause. Buy the amalgamation polka main by wright, stephen isbn. But this book is less about one picture, and more about america during the civil war. Outsized country feet that just wouldnt keep still, strutting and reeling all along that slippery stretch of flooded road.

It is a novel of horror, beauty, and great robust humor. Liberty fish, the protagonist of stephen wrights new novel, the amalgamation polka, is the only child of an abolitionist couple living in new york who constantly leave him in the care of his aunt as they go on their crusades. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our pro connect email alert. Recorded books is the largest independent producer of audiobooks in the world. Narrator michael emerson would be commended if he had merely gotten through it all without stumbling, but his flawless, controlled delivery becomes the thread for this rambunctious tale of a boy growing up with abolitionist parents and slaveowning grandparents. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The amalgamation polka in this sweeping civil war novel, stephen wrights understanding of america trumps delillos or pynchons, and his writing rivals toni morrisons. The amalgamation polka by stephen wright little, brown and. We already know what happened, and we usually know what to. Stephen wrights fourth novel is set during the us civil war and the years leading up to it. Author stephen wrights new book, the amalgamation polka is a book that focuses on the taboos of the 19th century united states. Revisiting stephen wright and historical fiction the new.

The amalgamation polka 2006 is the fourth novel by the writer stephen wright. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The amalgamation polka showcases not only the brutality of this tragic passage in american history, but also its surprising compassion and hope. Proslavery americans used the term amalgamation polka to describe what they saw as the inevitable mixing of the white and black races, should abolition occur. A young yankee soldier who is disillusioned by the war deserts in order to reunite with his southern relatives. The amalgamation polka resembles it not a jot, save its also being eminently american. He has taught at princeton university, brown university, and the new school. During the antebellum years, he discovers that his home is a station on the underground railroad. Passionate though i am about the past, the history of the united states was never a topic that interested me much, and thus the amalgamation polka is not the sort of book i would normally go for. The setting of novel is during the time of the civil war of the united states. In his latest novel, the amalgamation polka, wright turns from the 20th century to the civil war era, and attempts to tell the story of a man caught between the fierce abolitionist sentiments of. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.

The amalgamation polka 2006 is the fourth novel by writer stephen wright. Outsized country feet that just wouldnt keep still, strutting. Born in 1844 in upstate new york as the child of ardent abolitionists, liberty fish finds his life influenced also by his grandparents, carolina slaveholders, a conflict that he struggles to resolve. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Taking risks throughout the book, wright creates liberty fishs. Dec 30, 2006 the amalgamation polka by stephen wright 384pp, faber. Feb 15, 2006 in his latest novel, the amalgamation polka, wright turns from the 20th century to the civil war era, and attempts to tell the story of a man caught between the fierce abolitionist sentiments of. During the antebellum years, he discovers that his home is. Paul verhoevens black book, the amalgamation polka by. Born in 1844 in bucolic upstate new york, liberty fish is the son of fervent abolitionists as well as the grandson of carolina slaveholders even more dedicated to.

With the amalgamation polka, stephen wright has transformed the historical novel genre into an experimental, postmodern art form. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the amalgamation polka. Site includes bibliography and brief author biography. The amalgamation polka by stephen wright 384pp, faber. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Thus follows a childhood limned with fugitive slaves moving through hidden passageways in the house, and the inevitable distress that befalls his mother whenever letters arrive from her parents.

Jan 14, 2008 listen to amalgamation polka audiobook by stephen wright. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. Liberty is born at a time when many people are expecting the end of the world. The amalgamation polka kindle edition by wright, stephen. Michael emerson born in 1844 in upstate new york as the child of ardent abolitionists, liberty fish finds his life influenced also by his grandparents, carolina slaveholders, a conflict that he struggles to resolve. Wright, who comes trailing blurbs from the likes of toni morrison, joyce carol oates and thomas pynchon, is the author of five frenetic novels that romp through fields of violence and madness.

Jan 21, 2020 his last book, the amalgamation polka, appeared in 2006 and offered a bizarre picaresque of the civil war. Thatcher and roxana are driven by a sense of duty so powerful that it sometimes causes them. In his latest novel, the amalgamation polka, wright turns from the 20th century to the civil war era, and attempts to tell the story of a man. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The plot is wrapped around the story of liberty fish and his travels after joining the union army. Imagine if mark twain had written absolutely stunning novel. Between the two wars, the american civil and vietnam wars, there would seem to be little immediate correspondence, save they were both exceptionally. Wright squeezes nearly every feature of the nineteenthcentury novel into this fat sausage of a book. Using this as a backdrop, wright shows liberty fish growing up in an abolitionist household in upstate new york, when amalgamation. The author of the vietnam classic meditation in green.

The amalgamation polka by stephen wright overdrive. Yet for all the brutality and tragedy, this novel is exuberant in the telling and its wide compassion, brimming with the language, manners, hopes, and fears. The amalgamation polka book summary and study guide. It is set during the time of the american civil war. The amalgamation polka by stephen wright, paperback barnes. Stephen wright was educated at the iowa writers workshop. The amalgamation polka by wright, stephen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Our rbdigital platform distributes the broadest array of digital content typesincluding audiobooks, video, magazines, ebooks, education, and entertainmentall in one powerful app. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Jan 20, 2007 book the amalgamation polka liberty fish, born in 1844 in upstate new york, is caught between the fervent abolition era sensibilities of his parents and the fierce confederate sympathies of.

In language both true to its time and completely modern, it is revelatory and mesmerizing, a novel that will bring a smile to your own lips as it sets your brain on fire. Buy a cheap copy of the amalgamation polka book by stephen wright. The amalgamation polka presents us with two families, the fishes of delphi, new york. For someone with relatively paltry production, wright has garnered notice and acclaim from the american literary monsters don delillo, toni morrison, joyce carol oates and thomas pynchon all offer backofthejacket blurbs on his latest book. The amalgamation polka wright, stephen, 1946 author. The amalgamation polka by stephen wright goodreads. Hailed by the san francisco chronicle as a bright star in t.

Stephen wrights curious amalgamation polka doesnt conform to a conventional antebellum novel not much elegy here. The amalgamation polka audiobook by stephen wright. In this offbeat civil war novel, a young abolitionist comes to terms with his times as he visits his slaveowning grandparents. This is not the sort of book i would normally go for, but i am so glad i stumbled upon it. The amalgamation polka by stephen wright overdrive rakuten.