Rafael Alvarez Book order

A passionate love affair unfolds between the author and the city of Baltimore, revealing both its flaws and its unique beauty. Rafael Alvarez embraces the city's violence and corruption while celebrating its resilience, dignity, and vibrant community. Through his heartfelt narrative, readers are invited to see Baltimore in a new light, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of its complex character and rich history. Azar Nafisi's endorsement highlights the transformative power of Alvarez's perspective on urban life.

Tales from the Holy Land is the third collection of short fiction from the Baltimore author and screenwriter. The stories take place along the narrow streets and alleys of Alvarez's heartbreaking hometown, charting secret histories of the last 100 years through the difficult and hopeful lives of tugboat men, junk collectors, beautiful women, short order cooks and an artist who captures it all in house paint on the sides of abandoned buildings.

"The Wire has been widely hailed as the greatest television series of all time. It portrays the war of attrition between the city's hardened police force, and its drug dealers, and the blurring of good and evil, justice and injustice, right and wrong. Over its five series it has built up a detailed, rich and layered portrait of Baltimore: from its corner boys touting dope and its dock workers facing extinction, through the strained education system and tainted halls of power, to the crumbling media establishment. Rafael Alvarez - a reporter, essayist and staff writer for the show - brings the reader inside this world, detailing many of the real-life incidents and personalities that have inspired the show's storylines and characters. Packed with photographs and featuring an introduction by series creator and executive producer David Simon, as well as essays by acclaimed authors George Pelecanos, Nick Hornby, Laura Lipmann, and William F. Zorzi, it covers all five series in glorious detail."--Publisher's description.