Mary Gordon Book order

A memoir of the life of John Wilson, a prominent 19th century Scottish author and philosopher, written by his daughter Mary Gordon.

Late 18th century Ireland. Two women from noble families - Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby - form an intense romantic friendship. They become famous as the Ladies of Llangollen. Chase is the forgotten queer novel of the inter-war period - an amiable companion to Woolf's time-travelling Orlando and antidote to the misery of The Well of Loneliness.

This memoir offers an intimate look into the life of John Wilson, drawing from family documents and various historical sources. It provides personal insights and reflections on his experiences, contributions, and the context of his time. The reprint preserves the original narrative while making it accessible to contemporary readers, highlighting Wilson's significance and the impact he had on those around him.

"Unbeknownst to her many fans, Quin Archer, the revenge-loving queen of the reality-TV show "Payback," was once an angry teen named Heidi--and her true story may be known only to Agnes, who was her art teacher at a private New England girls' school in the 1970s. Then a young woman herself, Agnes saw a spark of originality in the brooding Heidi. But when she suggests Heidi visit the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the girl returns with a disastrous account of having been picked up at the museum by an older man. Agnes's stunned, victim-blaming response will haunt both women for decades. Gordon narrates this tale of #metoo misunderstanding, from a time before there was language to contain it, with a sharp sense of life's changing tempo, carrying us through Heidi's disappearance and reinvention as Quin, and Agnes's escape into career and family in Italy--until, inevitably, they meet again. A remarkable book about the precise weight of our words and deeds, from a writer whose moral vision is deeply rewarding in its subtlety"--

From the best-selling novelist and memoirist: a deeply personal view of her discovery of the celebrated modern monk and thinker through his writings. “If Thomas Merton had been a writer and not a monk, we would never have heard of him. If Thomas Merton had been a monk and not a writer, we would never have heard of him.” So begins acclaimed author Mary Gordon in this probing, candid exploration of the man who became the face and voice of mid-twentieth-century American Catholicism. Approaching Merton “writer to writer,” Gordon illuminates his life and work through his letters, journals, autobiography, and fiction. Pope Francis has celebrated Merton as “a man of dialogue,” and here Gordon shows that the dialogue was as much internal as external—an unending conversation, and at times a heated conflict, between Merton the monk and Merton the writer. Rich with excerpts from Merton’s own writing, On Thomas Merton produces an intimate portrait of a man who “lived life in all its imperfectability, reaching toward it in exaltation, pulling back in anguish, but insisting on the primacy of his praise as a man of God.”

The narrative centers on Marian Taylor, who, at nineteen, distanced herself from her affluent Irish Catholic family to volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, a chapter of her life she has kept hidden. Now in her nineties and facing cancer, she reveals her past to her granddaughter Amelia, who seeks purpose in her own life. Through Marian's profound experiences of love, friendship, and moral dilemmas, Amelia embarks on a journey to Spain, aiming to connect her grandmother's legacy with her own future. The story poignantly examines how personal character is shaped by historical moments and familial ties.

Exploring profound human connections, this collection features four emotionally rich stories. Readers encounter Simone Weil in her final days in New York, an American student seeking solace in Italy after heartbreak, an engaging Irish storyteller who navigates life with charm, and the impact of Thomas Mann on a Midwestern high schooler's heart. Each narrative highlights transformative moments and deep understanding, showcasing Mary Gordon's literary skill and empathetic insight into the complexities of life and relationships.

Set in Rome, the story follows Miranda and Adam, high school sweethearts reuniting in their late fifties after years apart. Their initial awkwardness gives way to daily walks, where they confront their past misunderstandings and the events that led to their separation. As they explore the city together, they reflect on their lives, revealing the enduring impact of first love and the dreams of their youth. Mary Gordon crafts a moving narrative about nostalgia, relationships, and the complexities of love over time.

Exploring the fundamental Biblical stories, Mary Gordon reflects on the complexities of a divine figure in human form and the moral ambiguities present in the text. Through her insightful and candid analysis, she reinterprets the teachings surrounding the miracle of the Resurrection, revealing a rich tapestry of overlapping, often conflicting lessons that resonate with both familiarity and intrigue. This personal journey invites readers to engage deeply with the profound themes of faith and understanding within the Scriptures.