Books

Burning Down the House

Essays on Fiction (1997)

In eleven brilliant essays Charles Baxter displays his characteristic wit and intelligence as he muses about the influences of culture and politics on the art of storytelling. As much a rumination on the state of literature as a technical manual for aspiring writers, Burning Down the House has been enjoyed by readers and taught in classrooms for over a decade. Readers are rewarded with thoughtful analysis, humorous one-liners, and plenty of brush fires that continue burning long after the book is closed.