Mercy A Novel
Mercy A Novel by Joan Silber is a compelling exploration of fear and abandonment, set against the backdrop of 1970s New York. Published by Catapult on September 2, 2025, this 256-page novel delves into the life of Ivan, who, alongside his best friend Eddie, faces a life-altering moment during a drug experiment. The story unfolds as Ivan grapples with the consequences of a fateful decision made in a crowded emergency room, a choice that haunts him and reverberates through the lives of those around him.
Readers will find a rich narrative that examines themes of friendship, family life, and the historical context of the 20th century. As Ivan’s secret weighs heavily on him, the novel intricately weaves together the lives of various characters, revealing how one act can ripple through a community over decades. Mercy invites readers to reflect on the connections that bind us and the often unseen impacts of our choices, all while navigating the evolving social and sexual mores of the time.
Official synopsis Publisher
A rich and nuanced story beginning with a moment of fear and abandonment that will reverberate across decades and change the course of many lives, by a beloved PEN/Faulkner and National Book Critics Circle Award–winning author
In the gritty East Village of 1970s New York, Ivan and his best friend, Eddie, a popular local bartender, are dabbling in drugs following a short tour of Europe. One night, as Ivan and Eddie experiment with heroin, things go horribly wrong. In a panic, Ivan rushes Eddie to a crowded local ER and, believing his friend is about to die, makes the awful choice to leave him there.
This one act of abandonment haunts Ivan his entire life. He keeps this secret from his friends and later his family, forever searching for mercy from “a remorse that never dies.” Ivan’s decision also ripples across time through an extended community, affecting a host of other people unknowingly connected to that night.
Following a bold cast of characters across decades, and set against the changing social and sexual mores from the 1970s onward, Mercy is Silber’s most ambitious and expansive novel yet, proving once again how we are all connected in mysterious and often unknown ways.
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