The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel
A National Book Award Finalist

Brad Watson's first novel was eagerly awaited after his breathtaking, award-winning debut collection of short stories, Last Days of the Dog-Men. In The Heaven of Mercury, Watson fulfills that literary promise with a humorous and jaundiced eye. Finus Bates has loved Birdie Wells since the day he saw her do a naked cartwheel in the woods in 1916. Later he won her at poker, lost her, then nearly won her again after the mysterious poisoning of her womanizing husband. Does Vish, the old medicine woman down in the ravine, hold the key to Birdie's elusive character? Or does Parnell, the town undertaker, whose unspeakable desires bring lust for life and death together? Or does the secret lie with some other colorful old-timer in Mercury, Mississippi, not such a small town anymore? With "graceful, patient, insightful and hilarious" prose (USA Today), Brad Watson chronicles Finus's steadfast devotion and Mercury's evolution from a sleepy backwater to a small city.

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The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel
A National Book Award Finalist

Brad Watson's first novel was eagerly awaited after his breathtaking, award-winning debut collection of short stories, Last Days of the Dog-Men. In The Heaven of Mercury, Watson fulfills that literary promise with a humorous and jaundiced eye. Finus Bates has loved Birdie Wells since the day he saw her do a naked cartwheel in the woods in 1916. Later he won her at poker, lost her, then nearly won her again after the mysterious poisoning of her womanizing husband. Does Vish, the old medicine woman down in the ravine, hold the key to Birdie's elusive character? Or does Parnell, the town undertaker, whose unspeakable desires bring lust for life and death together? Or does the secret lie with some other colorful old-timer in Mercury, Mississippi, not such a small town anymore? With "graceful, patient, insightful and hilarious" prose (USA Today), Brad Watson chronicles Finus's steadfast devotion and Mercury's evolution from a sleepy backwater to a small city.

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The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel

The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel

by Brad Watson
The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel

The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel

by Brad Watson

Paperback(Reprint)

$16.95 
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Overview

A National Book Award Finalist

Brad Watson's first novel was eagerly awaited after his breathtaking, award-winning debut collection of short stories, Last Days of the Dog-Men. In The Heaven of Mercury, Watson fulfills that literary promise with a humorous and jaundiced eye. Finus Bates has loved Birdie Wells since the day he saw her do a naked cartwheel in the woods in 1916. Later he won her at poker, lost her, then nearly won her again after the mysterious poisoning of her womanizing husband. Does Vish, the old medicine woman down in the ravine, hold the key to Birdie's elusive character? Or does Parnell, the town undertaker, whose unspeakable desires bring lust for life and death together? Or does the secret lie with some other colorful old-timer in Mercury, Mississippi, not such a small town anymore? With "graceful, patient, insightful and hilarious" prose (USA Today), Brad Watson chronicles Finus's steadfast devotion and Mercury's evolution from a sleepy backwater to a small city.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780393324655
Publisher: Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date: 08/17/2003
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 352
Product dimensions: 5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

About The Author
Brad Watson was the National Book Award shortlisted author of Last Days of the Dog–Men, The Heaven of Mercury, and Miss Jane. Originally from Mississippi, at the time of his death he was a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of Wyoming.

Hometown:

Wyoming

Date of Birth:

July 24, 1955

Place of Birth:

Meridian, Mississippi

Education:

Meridian Junior College; B.A., Mississippi State University, 1978; M.F.A., University of Alabama, 1985

Table of Contents

I.
Finus ex Machina15
Cephalantus Accidentalis22
Self-Reliance26
Giddyup37
Aunt Vish44
Birdicus Urquhartimus51
The Dead Girl59
Finus Connubialis72
Negro Electric88
Discussion with the Dummy96
A Tree Spirit101
Woodpile109
Wisdom126
Blood135
Habeas Corpus148
Black Heart153
Finus Inquisitus161
Obits176
II.
Her Remembrance of Awakened Birds185
Finus Querulous197
Finus Uxorious206
Saviors218
Selena in Ecstasy228
Finus Homerus237
Through the Mockingbird252
Finus Melonius (the Ratio of Love)264
Finus Impithicus276
Finus Magnificus286
III.
A Pair of Boots293
Finus Resurrectus303
A Lost Paradise313
Grievous Oscar322
Finus Infinitus327
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