Evocative of the classic urban tales of Bernard Malamud, James Baldwin, and Henry Roth, Paul Hond`s The Baker is an unforgettable story of romance, music, and bread set in contemporary Baltimore. The baker is Mickey Lerner--family man, ex-boxer, Jewish merchant, a man of confused passions who exists in a community polarized by racial mistrust. One day, Mickey`s life is changed by a shocking crime, forcing him to explore the mysteries of his marriage and the awkwardness of life with his eighteen-year-old son. Mickey must also face the racial tension surrounding him--a legacy of violence between blacks and whites that threatens both his family and his bakery. Above all, Mickey must confront himself: his feelings, his desires, and the memory of a tragic event from his past. Paul Hond has written a profoundly moving novel that never flinches in describing the dynamics of race and class, while offering a poignant vision of redemption. Powerful and compassionate, The Baker is a timeless work of fiction by a young writer whose voice will linger in the memory of readers for years to come.
