This One and Magic Life

'Powerful, stunning . . . There's a mystery here, and a murder. But the real story, the heart of the matter, is family.' -Birmingham NewsIn the deep South, where love and hatred run deep and close, dissension often simmers just beneath the surface. When a family gathers for a funeral at its old homestead above the waters of Mobile Bay, it must carry out the last wish of the aunt and sister whom it has come to mourn. It is a wish that will unearth a terrible secret, one that will either tear her siblings and their offspring apart or allow them to accept buried memories, wounds, and love.In This One and Magic Life, Anne Carroll George has created a brilliant portrait of a Southern family in all its glory, captured in a moment of searing intensity and lyric truth. Rich with wisdom and deep understanding, this is a compelling saga of the twentieth century-and tells a story that is truly timeless.'Witty dialog and smart characters . . . a pleasure to read.' -Library Journal 'Evocative, often lyrical . . . some of the shorter chapters read almost like prose poems.' -Chicago Tribune'George's assured, soft Southern prose is full of symbolism and lyrical phrases, with much stargazing, Greek mythology and rising and setting suns to infuse the homey story with a mystical aura.' -Publishers Weekly