Bright Air Black

"A writer to read and reread."--The Economist

Following the success of Aquarium which was a New York Times Editor's Choice and garnered numerous rave reviews, David Vann transports us to 13th century B.C. to give a nuanced and electric portrait of the life of one of ancient mythology's most fascinating and notorious women, Medea.

In brilliant poetic prose Bright Air Black brings us aboard the ship Argo for its epic return journey across the Black Sea from Persia's Colchis--where Medea flees her home and father with Jason, the Argonauts, and the Golden Fleece. Vann's reimagining of this ancient tale offers a thrilling, realist alternative to the long held notions of Medea as monster or sorceress. We witness with dramatic urgency Medea's humanity, her Bronze Age roots and position in Greek society, her love affair with Jason, and her tragic demise.

Atmospheric and spellbinding, Bright Air Black is an indispensable, fresh and provocative take on one of our earliest texts and the most intimate and corporal version of Medea's story ever told.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Grove Press, Black Cat
Published: 03/07/2017
ISBN: 9780802125804
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.20h x 4.90w x 1.00d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 10/15/2016 pg. 61
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2017
Publishers Weekly 01/23/2017
Library Journal 03/01/2017 pg. 80
Library Journal 10/15/2016