Creation, Purpose, and Choice: The Millions Interviews James Wade
James Wade, whose work has been hailed as “rhapsodic” and “haunting,” is back with his third novel, Beasts of the Earth, a book that explores trauma, love, hate, free will, and everything in between.
Beast of the Earth, set in Texas and Louisiana, weaves together parallel narratives, the first following the life of Harlen LeBlanc, a groundskeeper at Carter Hills High School, whose life is disrupted by an act of violence. The second centers on a young man named Michael Fischer, who is dreading his father’s return from prison.
hailed the book as a “stark and chilling tale,” and Wade’s writing has been compared to that of Cormac McCarthy and Flannery O’Connor. caught up with Wade to talk about , his literary influences, the limits of labeling fiction, and a whole lot more.
