Chad Harbach

Easton Press Chad Harbach books

The Art of Fielding - signed modern classic - 2015

Chad Harbach grew up in Wisconsin, and graduated from Harvard in 1997. He was a Henry Hoyns Fellow at the University of Virginia, where he received an MFA in Fiction in 2004. He is currently the Executive Editor of n+1, which he co-founded, and lives in Brooklyn.

Author Chad Harbach

Chad Harbach, born on July 25, 1975, is an American author and editor, best known for his acclaimed debut novel, The Art of Fielding. Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Harbach's journey into the literary world took him through various pursuits before establishing himself as a novelist. Harbach attended Harvard University, where he studied English and played baseball. His passion for both literature and sports would later converge in his debut novel. After completing his undergraduate studies, Harbach worked in various editorial roles, including co-founding the literary journal "n+1" in 2004. "n+1" gained recognition for its intellectual and cultural commentary and became an influential publication in literary circles.

The Art of Fielding, published in 2011, marked Harbach's entry into the world of fiction. The novel revolves around the lives of characters associated with a small college baseball team and explores themes of ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of excellence. Praised for its intricate character development and insightful exploration of the human condition, the novel received widespread critical acclaim and became a bestseller. Chad Harbach's debut brought him accolades and established him as a notable contemporary voice in American literature. His writing style is characterized by a keen observation of human relationships, a thoughtful exploration of characters' inner lives, and a skillful blending of literary and sports themes.

Apart from his work as a novelist, Harbach continued to be involved in the literary community. He has contributed essays and articles to various publications, showcasing his perspectives on literature, sports, and culture. Chad Harbach's impact on the literary scene is marked by the success of his debut novel and his contribution to the literary journal "n+1." His ability to weave together diverse elements, such as literature and sports, resonated with readers and critics alike. While The Art of Fielding remains his most well-known work, Harbach's literary career is anticipated with interest for potential future contributions to contemporary fiction. For the latest information on Chad Harbach and his literary endeavors, it is recommended to check more recent sources.

The Art of Fielding

A disastrous error on the field sends five lives into a tailspin in this widely acclaimed tale about love, life, and baseball, praised by the  New York Times  as "wonderful...a novel that is every bit as entertaining as it is affecting."

At Westish College, a small school on the shore of Lake Michigan, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for big league stardom. But when a routine throw goes disastrously off course, the fates of five people are upended.

Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his future. College president Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, has fallen unexpectedly and helplessly in love. Owen Dunne, Henry's gay roommate and teammate, becomes caught up in a dangerous affair. Mike Schwartz, the Harpooners' team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. And Pella Affenlight, Guert's daughter, returns to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life.

As the season counts down to its climactic final game, these five are forced to confront their deepest hopes, anxieties, and secrets. In the process they forge new bonds, and help one another find their true paths. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment to oneself and to others.

A wonderful, warm novel from a major new American voice.

"First novels this complete and consuming come along very, very seldom." - Jonathan Franzen

Named one of the year's best books by the New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Bloomberg, Kansas City Star, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Time Out New York.

In The Art of Fielding, we see young men who know that their four years on the baseball diamond at Westish College are all that remain of their sporting careers. Only their preternaturally gifted fielder, Henry Skrimshander, seems to have the chance to keep his dream and theirs, vicariously alive, until a routine throw goes disastrously off course, and the fates of five people are upended. After his throw threatens to ruin his roommate Owen's future, Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his; while Mike Schwartz, the team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. Keeping a keen eye on them all, college president Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, falls unexpectedly and dangerously in love, much to the surprise of his daughter, Pella, who has returned to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warm-hearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment to oneself and to others.