War Against the Animals

Known for his deft prose and brilliant characterizations, Paul Russell is increasingly seen as one of the finest contemporary American novelists. And War Against the Animals is perhaps his richest, most accomplished, most compelling work yet.

Living in small town in upstate New York, middle-aged Cameron Barnes has, after almost dying, recently recovered a measure of health and is trying to find a way to reenter the outside world. Thus he hires two local brothers in their early twenties, Jesse and Kyle, to renovate a barn on his property. But Kyle sees an opportunity in Cameron, pushing his brother Jesse to befriend him and take advantage of Cameron's boredom and lack of direction. Caught between the opposing worlds embodied by Cameron and Kyle, Jesse is torn by the demands of his brother, the expectations of his family and community, and his own mix of volatile, contradictory emotions.

Praise

"Perfection . . . The social commentary, which could have been heavy-handed, is as lightly done as a background melody, haunting rather than obvious . . . [The novel is] a meditation on what happens when all begins to be lost: ways of life as well as relationships."—The Washington Post Book World

"Powerful writing . . . Shrewd and humorous at times, lyrically sad at others, wonderfully evocative of landscape and setting, all of it set with a light and graceful touch."—Frontiers

"Masterful . . . [Russell's] compassionate, insightful prose illuminates the differences that help define us."—Publishers Weekly

About the Author(s)

Paul Russell

Paul Russell is the author of several award-winning novels, including The Coming Storm, The Salt Point, and Sea of Tranquillity. He is a professor at Vassar College and lives in upstate New York.

Excerpt

WAR AGAINST THE ANIMALS (Chapter 1)

He had promised to have Max and Perry over for dinner as soon as Dan was gone. Nothing elaborate, only a quiet commemoration, wake, celebration, exorcism--whatever might best describe the occasion. Thus, on a bright evening early in June, Cameron Barnes watched as his two best friends left in the world made their way across his lawn to the front porch where he stood waiting.

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