Wim is an anxious adolescent from a wealthy 1950s east-coast family whose dreams are haunted by perplexing visions of classic tragedy. When he falls for Ana, a clever, idealistic working-class girl, both families sharply disapprove. The mutually infatuated youths quickly learn that confronting their differences in race, religion, and political heritage also means questioning their own preconceptions of identity—and perhaps sacrificing all they hold dear. As the star-crossed romance intensifies and careens toward explosive consequences, the Romeo and Juliet parallels lead to a stark reckoning. And as Wim moves through the subsequent acts of his life over the following six decades, seemingly simple Shakespearean allusions facilitate revelations far more profound.

Mere Oblivion is a modern fable about purpose, love, and legacy, with conceptual similarities to Jane Smiley‘s A Thousand Acres or Anne Tyler’s Vinegar Girl. Through a loose retelling of five different plays within the framework of a single continuous narrative, it examines the mysterious cycle of human existence and the many roles a person plays over the course of a single life. Along the way, the novel explores with an introspective spirit the issues of gender, race, politics, leadership, and ultimately, redemption. It is a simple and personal story at heart, following a flawed but aspirational soul on a search for meaning and contribution.

Representation / Publication

Currently seeking representation and publication for Mere Oblivion.

For a full synopsis, manuscript, or more information, please inquire below.
 

Specs

Words: 90,000
Audience: Adult
Genre: Literary / Historical / Fable