Belfer, born july 8, 1954, is from buffalo, new york, where she attended the. The title is an old testament reference and is linked to the holocaust. City of light 1999, her impressive first novel, built its story around the development of electricity in turnofcentury buffalo, new york. The settings alternate between berlin in the late 1700s to mid1800s, and 2010 in new york and germany.
Lauren belfer is the author of the new york times bestselling novel city of light, a number one book sense pick, a discover award nominee, and a new york times notable book. First up, buffalo native and novelist lauren belfer who resides in new york city. May 16, 2016 buffalo native lauren belfer is heading back to the bestseller charts with her new novel and after the fire. Barrett is the headmistress of the macaulay school. Written by lauren belfer, this is one of those utterly delicious books that will also make you feel smarter after you read iteven though it reads a lot like a soap opera. Wrought with remarkable depth and intelligence, city of light remains a work completely of its own era, and of ours as well. And after the fire lauren belfer harper collins may 3rd, 2016. Lauren belfer s deeply researched, evocative, and compelling narrative resonates with emotion and immediacy. Belfer is a gem of a writer and reading this book will engage you in ways that you have not imagined. Interweaving the stories of susanna and sara, and their families, and after the fire traverses over two hundred years of history, from the eighteenth century through the holocaust and into today, seamlessly melding past and present, real and imagined. Lauren belfer is an american author of three novels. Lauren belfers debut novel, city of light, was a new york times bestseller as well as a new york times notable book, a library journal best book, and a main selection of the bookofthemonth club. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a fierce radiance.
Light is central to lauren belfer s historical fiction. Through the independent but intertwined stories of susanna kessler and sara levy, belfer s third novel explores, among other things, the long history of. In this novel, belfer explores buffalo through the eyes of louisa barret. As in her first book city of light, belfer grabs the reader from the beginning and holds on until the last sentence. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read city of. Buy a cheap copy of city of light book by lauren belfer. An interview with lauren belfer about a fierce radiance, a compelling, richly detailed tale of passion and intrigue set in new york city during the tumultuous early days of world war ii.
Murder on the beach mystery bookstore and after the fire is a bold and hugely ambitious novel with the transfixing appeal of a bestseller. Lauren belfers deeply researched, evocative, and compelling narrative resonates with. The city of new york and particularly the suburb of buffalo where the novel is set are a model for industrialization, with their newly electrified streets and booming industry. City of light, a fierce radiance, and and after the fire. City of light by lauren belfer goodreads share book. Lauren s debut novel, city of light, was a new york times bestseller as well as a new york times notable book. A stirring literary accomplishment, lauren belfer s first novel marks the debut of a fresh voice for the new millennium and heralds a major publishing event. Lauren belfer s city of light discusses buffalo, ny at the turn of the last century. Lauren belfer and michael marissen have each just published books that address bachs sacred texts and his attitude toward judaism. Comprised of several genres, this is a book to pick up and savor. So begins and after the fire harper, 2016, the new book from bestselling author lauren belfer, whose previous forays into historical fiction include city of light and a fierce radiance.
Weaving together the stories of susanna and sara, lauren belfer creates a majestic narrative that spans lifetimes and continents, encompassing both the best and the worst of the human spirit. Together with her spouse marissen michael a noted musicologist, they have made appearances to discuss their work in several noted publications such as the new york times and sunday edition a cbc radio program. Lauren belfer artists burchfield penney art center. Lauren belfer s most recent novel, and after the fire, received the inaugural book club award of the 2016 national jewish book awards. The new york timesbestselling author of a fierce radiance and city of light returns with a new powerful and. Lauren belfers most recent novel, and after the fire, received the inaugural book club award of the 2016 national jewish book awards. Lauren belfer just buffalo literary center buffalo, ny. Interview an interview with lauren belfer about a fierce radiance, a compelling, richly detailed tale of passion and intrigue set in new york city during the tumultuous early days of world war ii tell us the story behind the story.
And after the fire is part historical novel, part mystery, with a tinge of romance. Lauren belfer manages to combine wit, charm, romance, and rich historical atmosphere in this marvelous novel about wartime new york city. Lauren belfer, and after the fire harper, 2016 new. F or fans of people of the book, possession, and sarahs key, a masterful new novel from lauren belfer, the new york times bestselling author of city of light and a fierce radiance. Director of larkin square leslie zemsky chatted with lauren about her historical novel a fierce radiance and how the heightened emotions following world war ii can be paralleled to todays society in the midst of the covid pandemic. And after the fire has received the inaugural book club award of the national jewish book awards. Her debut novel, city of light, which is set in buffalo at the time of the panamerican exposition, was a new york times bestseller, as well as a new york times notable book, a library journal best book, and a main selection of the bookofthemonth club. A fierce radiance by lauren belfer chicago tribune. Jul 14, 2017 lauren belfer on her book, a fierce radiance. Through the independent but intertwined stories of susanna kessler and sara levy, belfers third novel explores, among other things, the long history of. Lauren belfer audio books, best sellers, author bio. Lauren grew up in buffalo, new york, and decided to become a writer when she was six years old. Lauren belfer was the winner of the 2016 national jewish book award for and after the fire her third novel.
Aug 26, 2016 in the best parts of her latest novel, and after the fire, lauren belfer, backed up by historical research, imagines how a cantata actually could have been lost given to someone. The story and the construction of the book left a lot to be desired. Couldnt for the life of me figure out the title, but i may be a little dense. At swarthmore college, she majored in medieval studies. Jun 20, 2010 lauren belfers deathhaunted medical thriller begins in december 1941, just three days after the japanese assault on pearl harbor. Laurens debut novel, city of light, was a new york times bestseller as well as a new york times notable book. Most novels do not reach the level of true literature, but a fierce radiance does. A novel 9781443448628 by belfer, lauren and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read and after the fire. A fierce radiance by lauren belfer is a compelling novel. City of light lauren belfer s debut novel is a novel set in 1901 new york that is poised for glory. From new york timesbestselling author lauren belfer, a virtuoso novel that spans centuries and continents to reveal the secret history of a longlost musical masterpiece by johann sebastian bachand the two women bound together by its troubled past. Writing about music is like dancing about architecture, the saying goes. The new york timesbestselling author of a fierce radiance and city of light returns with a new powerful and passionate novelinspired by historical eventsabout two women, one european and one american, and the mysterious choral masterpiece by johann sebastian bach that changes both their lives. Chicago tribune books vivid powerfully atmospheric. In belfers hands, fictitious characters blend uncannily with historical ones. Not that theres anything simple about this rich novel, which is first and foremost an examination of illusion. Lauren belfer dazzled readers with her debut novel, city of light, a new york times notable book of the year. With lives and a new love hanging in the balance, claire will put herself at the center of danger to find a killerno matter what price she may have to pay.
Belfer s new book a fierce radiance, set in manhattan during world war ii, focuses on the race to massproduce viable antibioticspenicillin and its cousin molds. A fierce radiance shines with fascinating detail about a moment in american history we have mostly forgotten, when penicillin was new, miraculous, and in short supply. Jul 11, 2016 buy this book at amazon and on kindle. Taking place in buffalo, new york in 1901, the story is told in the first person by miss louisa barrett, a 36yearold spinster who is headmistress of the prestigious. The new york timesbestselling author of a fierce radiance and city of light returns with a new powerful and passionate novelinspired by historical eventsabout two women, one european and one american, and the mysterious choral masterpiece by johann sebastian bach that changes both their lives in the ruins of germany in 1945, at the end of. Lauren belfer s book, and after the fire, gets three stars mainly for what i learned about music history. Lauren belfer s novel a fierce radiance was named a washington post best novel. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read city of light. Belfer s powerful portrayal of how people are changed in pursuit of a miracle makes this book an especially compelling read. She has an mfa from columbia university, and now lives in new york with her. Lauren belfer was born in rochester, new york, and grew up in buffalo, where she attended buffalo seminary. Claire shipley, a photojournalist working for the phenomenally.
If you like serious historical fiction, i predict you will fully enjoy and after the fire, which is clearly the equal, if not even better, than her first book. An intellectual thriller and a beautiful love story. And after the fire national jewish book award winner the new york timesbestselling author of a fierce radiance and city of light returns with a new powerful and passionate novelinspired by historical eventsabout two women, one european and one american, and the mysterious choral masterpiece by johann sebastian bach that changes both their lives. F or fans of people of the book, possession, and sarahs key, a masterful new novel from lauren belfer, the new york timesbestselling author of city of light and a fierce radiance.
City of light was also a bestseller in great britain, and it has been translated into six languages. Lauren belfers panoramic new novel is a love story wrapped around a spy story with a pivotal medical breakthrough at its center. Belfer s portrait of the nation at a hard if ebullient time, while likely to remind some readers of doctorows ragtime, is less chilly and more subtle than that work, and very gripping. Lauren belfer s deeply researched, evocative, and compelling narrative resonates with. Lauren belfers novel a fierce radiance was named a washington post best novel. And after the fire has received the inaugural book club award of the 2016 national jewish book awards. In this highly anticipated followup, she deftly captures the uncertainty and. City of light by lauren belfer 2003, paperback for sale. This is the story about a lost bach cantata, stolen during world. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Lauren belfers new novel and after the fire melds past.
May 01, 2016 writing about music is like dancing about architecture, the saying goes. Her debut novel, city of light, was a new york times bestseller as well as a number one book sense pick. Lauren belfer was born in rochester, new york, and grew up in buffalo, where she attended the buffalo seminary. Lauren belfer books list of books by author lauren belfer. Lauren belfer author of and after the fire goodreads. Now is a great time to start a new book and utilize reading as a calming and. Its a look at the music of bach, antisemitism and family. Lauren belfer s deathhaunted medical thriller begins in december 1941, just three days after the japanese assault on pearl harbor. May 29, 2016 lauren belfer and michael marissen have each just published books that address bachs sacred texts and his attitude toward judaism. Author lauren belfer s new novel, a fierce radiance. If so, lauren belfer has pirouetted the new york skyline in and after the fire her virtuoso novel blends historical. I have been a big fan of lauren belfer since reading her first historical novel, city of light.
Author lauren belfers complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. Sara itzig levy counts herself among the elite of lateeighteenthcentury berlin. Belfer s powerful portrayal of how people are changed in pursuit of a miracle makes this book an. The new york timesbestselling author of a fierce radiance and city of light returns with a new powerful and passionate. Handpicked recommendations to authors who have a similar writing style to lauren belfer. A literary couple grapple with bach and his god the new. Lauren belfer s story of love in the time of penicillin is enthralling. Her second novel, a fierce radiance harper, was named a washington post best novel, an npr best mystery, and a new york times editors choice. A sweeping historical novel, a fierce radiance, set in 1940s new york captures the atmosphere of a city at war and the race to produce a powerful. Belfers powerful portrayal of how people are changed in pursuit of a miracle makes this book an especially compelling read. What was the inspiration behind a fierce radiance on her bureau, my aunt kept a photo of her brother in the 1920s, when he was 9 or 10 years old, a blond boy. I was kept riveted by a combination of history, romance and mystery.
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