Theory of War

Numéro d'article 10124354

Author biography: Born in America, Joan Brady trained to be a dancer and by the age of twenty was a member of the prestigious New York Ballet Company. At twenty-two she gave it all up—a decision she explains in her autobiographical account *The Unmaking of a Dancer*—and went to university to study philosophy. She took her degree, married, had a son, and moved to Totnes, Devon, where she has lived for more than twenty years. Back cover: Elegant and passionate, *Theory of War* is the haunting story of Jonathan Carrick, sold into white slavery as a child, in post–Civil War America. Cruelly treated by his master, Alvah Stokes, it is Alvah’s son George who becomes the object of a hatred that endures half a century. Forced to submit, but never submissive, Jonathan’s escape to a new life as a railroadman, then as an itinerant preacher, opens up a new world for him. But within him lies the need for revenge—a war against George, in fact—that must be satisfied. A chronicle of human triumph over adversity, *Theory of War* also provides as breathtaking and visionary an account of life in the primitive West as any to be found in the novels of Jack London or John Steinbeck. ‘Passionate’ — *Mail on Sunday* ‘It resonates beyond the particular experience of one family, [becoming] an allegory of American society, and a commentary on notions of freedom and slavery’ — *Independent on Sunday* ‘Universalises the individual’s story into a symbolic parable of human cruelty and its effects... *Theory of War* achieves a genuine tragic weightiness’ — *Financial Times* ‘Absolutely brilliant’ — Mary Wesley. Price UK £6.99. Cover illustration: Sarah Perkins. An Abacus Book. First published in Great Britain by André Deutsch 1993. First published by Abacus 1994. Reprinted 1994 (twice). Printed in England by Clays Ltd., St Ives plc. Abacus, A Division of Little Brown and Company (UK) Limited, Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, London WC2E 7EN.