This unapologetically irreverent and darkly humorous collection of eighty caustically witty contemporary stories poses the central question: “What does it really mean to be a man?” Is it about guts, guilt or greed, talent, toughness or treachery—or maybe faith, fighting and family?
There Once Was a Man covers it all—vividly, vibrantly and incisively—with a cast of ‘oddly ordinary’ characters drawn from his imagination. They may originate from the four corners of the globe, but the experiences of this motley crew are painfully, playfully and poignantly relatable:
- An envious neighbour takes his obsession with competing against the man next door to extreme levels.
- A law-abiding citizen willingly breaks the rules.
- A cruel, unrepentant and ailing father is left to the mercy of the son he wronged.
- A job candidate’s name is so unpronounceable it causes his interviewer physical distress.
- A wife and mistress make sure the man they love has a fitting send off.
- A man debates whether to risk speaking ill of the dead or telling the truth at a eulogy.
- A one-hundred-year-old man contemplates a violent act before he passes away.
Plus much more…
Seltzer Cole's There Once Was a Man holds up a mirror reflecting the uncertainty, unpredictability and unknowns of life. Readers may recognize someone they know—friend, family or foe—or even the face staring back at them in the looking glass.
