In Burning Houses Andrew Harvey has

taken the novel form and extended it to

grand opera, with all its glitter and

drama, flourish and tragedy.

Charles, a writer living in Paris is

invited by Adolphe, a famous fihn direc-

tor, to read his novel to him. Their meet-

ings enmesh the reader in two plots: one

developing in the encounters between

Charles and Adolphe; the other con-

tained in Charles s nove] the account of

his relationship with Mark a married

man.

Like a turning crystal, the story

reveals the facets of love: the sexual

passion between Charles and Mark; the

long friendship between Charles and

Anna (an outspoken beauty who ap-

pears in both plots); and the himmous

platonic love between Adolphe and

Charles that is akin to a merging of

souls. Each character undergoes a trans-

formation, a growth into knowledge

that brings the reader to a deep under-

standing of self-awareness through suf-

fering, honesty, and humor.

Already acclaimed for the brilliance

of his first three booksA Journey in

Ladakh; No Diamonds. No Hat. No

Honey; and One Last Mirror Andrew

Harvey breaks through again with this

new novel, which will evoke for many

readers Manuel Puig s Kiss of the Spider

Woman and Andrew Holleran s Dancer

from the Dance.