The Fighter: A Novel

A stunning debut. . . . Craig Davidson asks-and answers-some big, uncomfortable questions about the nature of our humanity. The Fighter is an essential novel, destined for cult status at the very least.-Irvine Welsh, author of TheBedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs Praise for Craig Davidson: Davidson . . . smudges the line between comedy and horror, cruelty and mercy. His remarkable stories are challenging and upsetting. . . . Don't look for comfort here.-Chuck Palahniuk These big, riveting stories about tough guys in trouble are the best I've read in a long time from a young writer. There's enough incident, shock, and suspense for a dozen books. This collection is filled with stories you haven't heard before.-Bret Easton Ellis Everything has been handed to Paul Harris, the son of a wealthy southern Ontario winery owner. But after a vicious beating shakes his world, he descends into the realm of hardcore bodybuilders and boxing gyms, seeking to become a real man. Rob Tully, a working-class teenager from upstate New York, is a born boxer. He trains with his father and uncle, who believe a gift like his can change their lives. But he struggles under the weight of their expectations, fearing his own ability to inflict pain. Their disparate paths lead to an underground bare-knuckle fight venue where men brawl for hard cash. When two fighters step into a ring where anything goes, sometimes only one walks out. Craig Davidson was born in Toronto and now lives in Iowa City. His short story collection, Rust and Bone, has been published in the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom.