Black Water (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Joyce Carol Oates
- First Published: 1992
- Type of Work: Novel
- Time of Work: July 4, 1991
- Setting: Grayling Island, Maine; Boston; and Washington, D.C.
- Principal Characters: Kelly (Elizabeth Anne) Kelleher, The Senator, Buffy St. John
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: History, Abused persons, Twentieth century, Betrayal, New England, Alcohol, Islands, Accidents, Politicians, Parties, Automobiles, Drunk driving or drivers, Fourth of July, Harbors
- Locales: Boston, MA, Washington, D.C., Islands, Maine
Black Water is a fictional tragedy that refuses to abandon its origins in personal political history. “The Senator,” whose name is never given beyond this title, arrives at a Fourth of July party on Grayling Island, off Boothbay Harbor, Maine. During the course of the afternoon that he spends talking, drinking, and playing tennis with the younger people gathered at the party, he meets and captivates Kelly Kelleher, and the two of them leave that evening to catch the last ferry off the island, to have dinner in Boothbay Harbor, and, presumably, to spend the night at the motel where...
[The entire page is 2279 words long]
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