After the Fireworks: Three Novellas

by Aldous Huxley, Gary Giddins

Overview

"After the Fireworks is a major work and a turning point for Huxley, leading directly to Brave New World.” —Gary Giddins

After the Fireworks is a collection of three lost classic pieces of short fiction by Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, with a foreword by National Book Critics Circle Award winner Gary Giddins —now available as a Harper Perennial Olive Edition.

In the title novella of this collection, Rome is the stunning backdrop for a renowned novelist’s dangerous affair. “Uncle Spencer” is the “exquisite” (New Statesman) tale of an aging World War I veteran’s quest for the lost love he met in a prison during the war, and “Two or Three Graces,” “probably the thing nearest perfection of all that [Huxley] has done” (New Statesman), recounts a destructive writer’s abusive relationship with an impressionable housewife. The novellas collected here reveal Aldous Huxley at the height of his powers.

This book part of a special series from Harper Perennial called Olive Editions—exclusive small-format editions of some of our bestselling and celebrated titles, featuring beautiful and unique hand-drawn cover illustrations. All Olive Editions are available for a limited time only 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063269613
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Series:	Harper Perennial Olive Editions
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	263,029
Product dimensions:	4.50(w) x 6.80(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) is the author of the classic novels Brave New World, Island, Eyeless in Gaza, and The Genius and the Goddess, as well as such critically acclaimed nonfiction works as The Perennial Philosophy and The Doors of Perception. Born in Surrey, England, and educated at Oxford, he died in Los Angeles, California.

Editorial Reviews

It takes an artist of more than usual gifts to produce 137 quietly exquisite pages in order to lead up to such a delightfully ironical tiger-or-lady ending as that of ‘Uncle Spencer.’

Literary Review on (Uncle Spencer)

The psychology of the two individuals is shrewdly mastered. . . . After the Fireworks displays on Huxley’s part a rare but genuine if elusive sympathy as well as a sound perception of human shortcomings.

New York Times (on After the Fireworks)

Two or Three Graces is probably the thing nearest perfection of all that he has done.

New Statesman UK (on Two or Three Graces)

Aldous Huxley endures as one of the most visionary and unusual minds of the twentieth century.

Maria Popova

’After the Fireworks’ is a major work and a turning point for Huxley, leading directly to Brave New World.

Gary Giddins

Brilliant. . . . I doubt if there is another living novelist as capable of taking in so much at a glance.

The Spectator UK (on After the Fireworks)

’After the Fireworks’ is a major work and a turning point for Huxley, leading directly to Brave New World.” — Gary Giddins

“The psychology of the two individuals is shrewdly mastered. . . . After the Fireworks displays on Huxley’s part a rare but genuine if elusive sympathy as well as a sound perception of human shortcomings.” — New York Times (on After the Fireworks)

“Brilliant. . . . I doubt if there is another living novelist as capable of taking in so much at a glance.” — The Spectator UK (on After the Fireworks)

“Two or Three Graces is probably the thing nearest perfection of all that he has done.” — New Statesman UK (on Two or Three Graces)

“It takes an artist of more than usual gifts to produce 137 quietly exquisite pages in order to lead up to such a delightfully ironical tiger-or-lady ending as that of ‘Uncle Spencer.’” — Literary Review on (Uncle Spencer)

“Aldous Huxley endures as one of the most visionary and unusual minds of the twentieth century.” — Maria Popova, Brain Pickings

From the Publisher

I doubt if there is another living novelist as capable of taking in so much at a glance. ... Brilliant.

The Spectator (UK

Two or Three Graces is probably the thing nearest perfection of all that he has done.

New Statesman (UK

After 75 years in obscurity, the three Huxley novellas collected here not only continue his focus as a social critic, but also showcase his considerable writing gifts for language and character development. Narrator Michael Page's plummy English accent perfectly depicts the upper-crust Brits in these stories of the privileged on the Continent before and after WWI. Page exhibits his considerable narrative talent by using subtle variations in tone and intensity to effectively voice a diverse cast of personalities—male and female, young and old. Page's beautifully understated presentation of all the drama these characters manufacture as they pursue making themselves miserable will appeal to any listener who enjoys good writing, but offers a special treat for Huxley fans. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile