An Early History of Fire

Set in a Midwestern town during the early 1960s, the story explores themes of longing and confusion through Danny Mueller's life, marked by loyalty to his childhood friends, Jake and Terry. The arrival of Karen, a college student from the East, disrupts his familiar world, challenging his perceptions and desires. Meanwhile, Danny's relationship with his father, a German immigrant grappling with lost prestige, adds depth to the narrative as they navigate the complexities of identity and change.