Timothy Gautreaux crafts 'broad-spectrum' fiction, appealing to both intellectuals and blue-collar readers, a style deeply influenced by his family's working-class background and his father's and grandfather's maritime careers. He identifies as a writer who happens to live in the South rather than a 'Southern writer,' consciously distancing himself from regional categorization. His strong connection to his Roman Catholic faith permeates his work, offering a distinct perspective. Gautreaux's stories are known for their wide appeal, resonating with diverse audiences.
Recognized as one of the best books of 2017 by both the Wall Street Journal and NPR, this work captivates readers with its compelling narrative and thought-provoking themes. It delves into intricate character dynamics and explores profound social issues, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature. The author’s unique perspective and engaging writing style invite readers to reflect on the complexities of human experience, ensuring a memorable reading journey.
By the acclaimed author of THE MISSING and THE CLEARING, 23 scintillating tales of small kindnesses, big decisions and secret lives.
Set in rural Louisiana, this debut collection explores pivotal moments in the lives of its characters, where ordinary circumstances lead to extraordinary crises. Stories feature a drunken train engineer facing disaster, a father pursuing his daughter's kidnapper in an old airplane, and a young man's infatuation with a radio voice. Blending humor and suspense, Tim Gautreaux captures the complexities of human experience with a deep affection for his characters, showcasing his talent as a master storyteller.
A collection of stories by a Louisiana writer. In Dancing with the One-Armed Gal, a factory worker dismissed from his job gives a lift to an academic dismissed from hers, Good for the Soul is on an alcoholic priest, while in the title story a man babysits the illegitimate children of his daughters.
An enthralling tale of abduction, guilt and redemption set in Jazz Age Louisiana, unanimously acclaimed by the critics.
Before the First World War, Byron Aldridge led a charmed life as heir apparent to a Pennsylvania timber empire, but he returned from France a different man. He ends up working as a company policeman in a backwoods Louisiana sawmill, where violence seems the only way to keep control. Here, amid the cypress swamps and alligators, his younger brother Randolph assumes charge of the mill and tries to rescue his former idol. As the brothers struggle to understand each other and their wives contend with their own hopes and fears, it is Randolph who starts a feud with the Sicilians who control the whisky and girls, and the future grows fearsome for them all.
Tiger Island, Louisiana is home to Paul, a contented machinist with killer dance moves and Colette his ambitious, outspoken wife. Amidst the bar brawls and boiled crab of her economically troubled hometown, Colette is hungry for a life of opportunity and sophistication. Armed with only her wits and her “tongue like a fillet knife” she heads West to California, but Paul, Tiger Island, and its wise old-timer residents refuse to let Colette go easily. Packed with dramatic and emotional scenes and set in the distinctive watery landscape of Deep South bayou country, The Next Step in the Dance is a novel about hard work, the importance of home and two tenacious protagonists whose relationship is tested to its absolute limit.
Exploring the theme of personal empowerment, the book encourages readers to reject mediocrity and strive for a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. Tim emphasizes the importance of recognizing and confronting human limitations while highlighting the transformative power that comes from overcoming them. Through practical insights, the narrative inspires individuals to take charge of their life experiences and create a more meaningful existence.
Traduit de l’anglais (États-Unis) par Jean-Paul Gratais. Grand roman « sudiste » sur la fraternité, mais aussi sur l’impitoyable capitalisme des années 20 dans une Amérique ivre de progrès technique. Randolph, fils d’un riche négociant en bois de Pittsburgh, est expédié en Louisiane par son père pour y récupérer son aîné Byron, qui travaille dans une exploitation forestière perdue au milieu des marais. Les ouvriers y sont rongés par les fièvres et l’alcool tandis que Byron est moralement dévasté par son expérience de la Première Guerre en Europe. Un misérable saloon tenu par des Siciliens mafieux catalyse la violence et le manque d’espoir de ces hommes coupés du monde. Tandis que Byron règle les problèmes à coups de feu et de poing, Randolph, lui, croit encore aux vertus du dialogue et de la diplomatie pour maintenir l’ordre dans la « colonie ». Plus approche le moment où le dernier arbre sera coupé, et les ouvriers renvoyés chez eux aussi pauvres qu’ils étaient arrivés, plus l’on doute de voir Randolph ramener son frère à la civilisation ― et à la raison. « D’une violence infinie et d’une humanité intense, Le Dernier Arbre de Tim Gautreaux est un magnifique roman sur l’Amérique sudiste des années 1920, les séquelles de la guerre en Europe. » ― Lire Vient de paraître, aux Éditions du Seuil : Nos disparus.
