Ice Fire Water: A Leib Goldkorn Cocktail

by Leslie Epstein

"At once a travel tale, a historical meditation, a Holocaust revenge fantasy, and a bedroom farce."―D. T. Max, New York Times Book Review Leib Goldkorn, aged musician, first appeared almost a quarter-century ago in The Steinway Quintet . Now Leib has replaced his magic flute with his phallus: it is love, longing, and the quest for sexual fulfillment that must stave off both his own death and the imminent destruction of the Jews. In Ice he rescues the celebrated skater Sonja Henie from Hitler's clutches. In Fire his paramour is Carmen Miranda. And in Water he engages in a South Sea Island intrigue with a famous swimming star of the 1940s. Meanwhile, in the present, Leib seeks consummation with three other inamoratas: Clara, his wife; Hustler model Miss Crystal Knight; and the critic Michiko Kakutani (causing a real-life literary scandal). In this "wickedly funny" ( Elle ) and no less heartbreaking novel, Leib Goldkorn emerges as one of American literature's most enduring, and endearing, creations. A New York Times Notable Book; a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year.

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Leslie Donald Epstein was an American educator, essayist, and novelist.

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat disjointed with the back and forth over the years. Funny ridiculous in parts.