THE BAKER A Novel

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.

Paul Hond was born in Baltimore and lives in New York. This is his first novel.