Table of Contents
Who by Fire: a serial novel
Who by Fire is told by Robert, Lena’s husband, as he attempts to understand her affair with Isaac, an affair he’s become aware of after her death. He imagines the story of his wife and her lover. Robert, the narrator, is trying to know himself in the story he is writing as he tells his imagined version of his wife’s betrayal. The story becomes a paradoxical tale of his own undoing that he comes to realize by telling it.
Robert Olen Butler, winner of the Pulitzer says: Mary L. Tabor’s Who by Fire is a lovely, innovative, deeply engaging novel about how it is that human beings make their way through the mysteries of existence.
Lee Martin, finalist for the Pulitzer says: Mary L. Tabor’s Who by Fire is a lyric meditation on love and desire, one that will catch you up in the blaze of its eroticism, its tender evocation of love and the passions and accommodations of a life lived through the flesh and through the imagination. Can memory lead to forgiveness? Who by Fire explores that question in a story I won’t soon forget. The beauty of the prose, the nuances of the characters, the ever-building plot—everything is in place for a novel that will touch you in all the right ways.
Matthew Long (here on Substack): This is a poignant novel about love, loss, and forgiveness. Narrated by Robert, a widower reflecting on his late wife Lena's infidelity, the story explores his journey to understand their relationship and come to terms with his grief. Tabor's lyrical prose and symbolic depth create an emotionally rich narrative that examines the complexities of human connection, betrayal, and healing. Its poetic storytelling and nuanced portrayal of relationships make it a compelling exploration of the human condition.
Table of Contents
Full audio for each chapter, followed by prose. The full novel (audio, print and Kindle) is available on Amazon.
Epigraph and Prologue (audio and prose)
Chapter 1: The Fire (audio and prose)
The Fire: prose 2
The Fire: prose 3
Chapter 2: Music (audio and prose)
Music: prose 2
Music: prose 3
Chapter 3: The Lovers (audio and prose )
The Lovers: prose 2
The Lovers: prose 3
The Lovers: prose 4
The Lovers: prose 5
The Lovers: prose 6
The Lovers: prose 7
Chapter 4: Me and Lena (audio and prose)
Me and Lena: prose 2
Chapter 5: Evan (audio and prose)
Evan: prose 2
Evan: prose 3
Evan: prose 4
Evan: prose 5
Chapter 6 The Tabard Inn (audio and prose)
Chapter 7 The Music Lesson (audio and prose)
Chapter 8 Revenge? (audio and prose)
Chapter 9 Robert (audio and prose)
Chapter 10 Robert (audio and prose)
Chapter 11 Parsing Lena (audio and prose)
Chapter 12 Lena’s Baby (audio and prose)
Chapter 13 Lena Turns to Evan (audio and prose).
Chapter 14 Heroes (audio and prose).
Chapter 15 Isaac and the Baby (audio and prose).
Chapter 16 Lena (audio and prose).
Chapter 17 Robert (audio and prose).
Chapter 18 Evan, Isaac and Lena (audio and prose).
Chapter 19 Isaac and Evan (audio and prose).
Chapter 20 I Am No Hero (audio and prose).
Chapter 21 Isaac and Lena (audio and prose).
Chapter 22 Lena’s Garden (audio and prose).
Chapter 23 Still in My Suit (audio and prose).
Chapter 24 Perspective (audio and prose).
Chapter 25 Damselfly (audio and prose).
Chapter 26 The Last Place You Looked (audio and prose).
Chapter 27 The Closet (audio and prose).
Chapter 28 Losing Her (audio and prose).
Chapter 29 Her Story (audio and prose).
Chapter 30 Evan (audio and prose).
Chapter 31 Evan: Evan seeks Isaac (audio and prose).
Chapter 32 Isaac and Evan (audio and prose).
Chapter 33 Isaac and Lena (audio and prose).
Chapter 34 Absolute Zero (audio and prose).
Chapter 35 Lena’s Garden (audio and prose).
Chapter 36 Coffee (audio and prose).
Chapter 37 Lena (audio and prose).
Chapter 38 Isaac and Lena (audio and prose).
Chapter 39 The Greenhouse (audio and prose).
Chapter 40 My Story (audio and prose).
Chapter 41 My Father and Mother (audio and prose).
Chapter 42 Glass (audio and prose).
Chapter 43 Heroes (audio and prose).
This is a great idea, Mary. I'm going to save this page.