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The Children's Hours: Stories of Childhood
Featuring an international constellation of notable authors, this anthology explores and celebrates childhood with tales touching on abuse and rejection, loneliness and love, the joys of friendship and discovery, and the first confused inklings of adolescent love. Participants in the project include acclaimed and award-winning authors such as David Almond, Margaret Atwood, Andre Brink, Melvin Burgess, Junot Diaz, Nadine Gordimer, Eva Hoffman, Alberto Manguel, Meg Rosoff, Nicholas Shakespeare, Ali Smith and Richard Zimler. Some of the 26 stories are new, while others are difficult to find in print-yet each offers a moving, disturbing, surprising, or mysterious glimpse into the fragile and precious lives of children around the world.
- GenresShort Stories
250 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2008
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Richard Zimler
44 books641 followersRichard Zimler was born in Roslyn Heights, New York, in 1956. He has a bachelor's degree from Duke University (1977) and a master's degree in journalism from Stanford. In 1990, he moved to Porto, Portugal, where he taught journalism for sixteen years at the university level. In 2017, the city of Porto awarded Zimler its highest distinction, the Medal of Honor. At the ceremony, Porto's mayor described the novelist as "A citizen of Porto who was born far away, who makes the city greater and grander... Zimler projects Porto out into the world and brings the rest of the world to us."
Richard has published twelve novels over the last 22 years, and his works have been translated into 23 languages. His most recent novel is THE INCANDESCENT THREADS, which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards in the USA. In chronological order, his novels are: The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Unholy Ghosts, The Angelic Darkness, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Search for Sana, The Seventh Gate, The Warsaw Anagrams, Teresa Island (only in Portugal and Brazil), The Night Watchman, The Gospel According to Lazarus (The Lost Gospel of Lazarus in paperback) and The Incandescent Threads. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists in 12 different countries. Five of his books have been nominated for the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award: Hunting Midnight, The Search for Sana, The Seventh Gate, The Warsaw Anagrams and The Night Watchman.
Richard has also published six children's books in Portugal. He writes his children's books in Portuguese and his novels in English.
The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Seventh Gate and The Incandescent Threads form the "Sephardic Cycle," a group of inter-connected - but fully independent - novels about different branches and generations of a Portuguese Jewish family. You do not need to read them in any order. Each book stands on its own. You can read the first chapters of all his books at his website: www.zimler.com
Richard's latest novel, The Incandescent Threads, is published by Parthian Books. It was a Number 1 Bestseller and Book of the Year in Portugal. It was also chosen as one of the Books of 2022 by the Sunday Times and Jewish Chronicle. Here is a brief synopsis:
From the acclaimed author of The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon and The Warsaw Anagrams comes an unforgettable, deeply moving ode to solidarity, heroism and the kind of love capable of overcoming humanity’s greatest horror.
Maybe none of us is ever aware of our true significance....
Benjamin Zarco and his cousin Shelly are the only two members of their family to survive the Holocaust. In the decades since, each man has learned, in his own unique way, to carry the burden of having outlived all the others, while ever wondering why he was spared.
Saved by a kindly piano teacher who hid him as a child, Benni suppresses the past entirely and becomes obsessed with studying kabbalah in search of the ‘Incandescent Threads’ – nearly invisible fibres that he believes link everything in the universe across space and time. But his mystical beliefs are tested when the birth of his son brings the ghosts of the past to his doorstep.
Meanwhile, Shelly – devastatingly handsome, charming and exuberantly bisexual – comes to believe that pleasures of the flesh are his only escape, and takes every opportunity to indulge his desires. That is, until he begins a relationship with a profoundly traumatised Canadian soldier and artist who helped to liberate Bergen-Belsen – and might just be connected to one of the cousins’ departed kin.
Across six non-linear mosaic pieces, we move from a Poland decimated by World War II to modern-day New York and Boston, hearing friends and relatives of Benni and Shelly tell of the deep influence of the beloved cousins on their lives. For within these intimate testimonies may lie the key to why they were saved and the unique bond that unites the
Richard has published twelve novels over the last 22 years, and his works have been translated into 23 languages. His most recent novel is THE INCANDESCENT THREADS, which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards in the USA. In chronological order, his novels are: The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Unholy Ghosts, The Angelic Darkness, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Search for Sana, The Seventh Gate, The Warsaw Anagrams, Teresa Island (only in Portugal and Brazil), The Night Watchman, The Gospel According to Lazarus (The Lost Gospel of Lazarus in paperback) and The Incandescent Threads. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists in 12 different countries. Five of his books have been nominated for the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award: Hunting Midnight, The Search for Sana, The Seventh Gate, The Warsaw Anagrams and The Night Watchman.
Richard has also published six children's books in Portugal. He writes his children's books in Portuguese and his novels in English.
The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Seventh Gate and The Incandescent Threads form the "Sephardic Cycle," a group of inter-connected - but fully independent - novels about different branches and generations of a Portuguese Jewish family. You do not need to read them in any order. Each book stands on its own. You can read the first chapters of all his books at his website: www.zimler.com
Richard's latest novel, The Incandescent Threads, is published by Parthian Books. It was a Number 1 Bestseller and Book of the Year in Portugal. It was also chosen as one of the Books of 2022 by the Sunday Times and Jewish Chronicle. Here is a brief synopsis:
From the acclaimed author of The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon and The Warsaw Anagrams comes an unforgettable, deeply moving ode to solidarity, heroism and the kind of love capable of overcoming humanity’s greatest horror.
Maybe none of us is ever aware of our true significance....
Benjamin Zarco and his cousin Shelly are the only two members of their family to survive the Holocaust. In the decades since, each man has learned, in his own unique way, to carry the burden of having outlived all the others, while ever wondering why he was spared.
Saved by a kindly piano teacher who hid him as a child, Benni suppresses the past entirely and becomes obsessed with studying kabbalah in search of the ‘Incandescent Threads’ – nearly invisible fibres that he believes link everything in the universe across space and time. But his mystical beliefs are tested when the birth of his son brings the ghosts of the past to his doorstep.
Meanwhile, Shelly – devastatingly handsome, charming and exuberantly bisexual – comes to believe that pleasures of the flesh are his only escape, and takes every opportunity to indulge his desires. That is, until he begins a relationship with a profoundly traumatised Canadian soldier and artist who helped to liberate Bergen-Belsen – and might just be connected to one of the cousins’ departed kin.
Across six non-linear mosaic pieces, we move from a Poland decimated by World War II to modern-day New York and Boston, hearing friends and relatives of Benni and Shelly tell of the deep influence of the beloved cousins on their lives. For within these intimate testimonies may lie the key to why they were saved and the unique bond that unites the
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 6, 2019
Esta é uma antologia de contos de escritores de renome, todos sobre a infância e tão variados quanto memórias e ficções que passam pela solidão, pelo amor, pela amizade, pelo abuso, pelo isolamento, pela formação da personalidade. Mas estava à espera de mais, pois alguns contos não são assim tão bons.
Os de que mais gostei: «Invierno», de Junot Díaz, sobre o desenquadramento de crianças que são forçadas a adaptar-se devido à emigração dos pais; «Clowns in clover», de Nadine Gordimer, sobre a perspetiva das crianças sobre o mundo adulto; «A casa dos animais», de Lídia Jorge, sobre como simples animais mortos podem salvar a vida de uma adolescente; «A minha irmã Cisne», de Katherine Vaz, sobre o amor por uma irmã bebé que não vai durar muito; e «Ilha Teresa» (que depois se transformou todo ele em livro), de Richard Zimler, sobre uma adolescente a ter de lidar com a doença do pai num país em que tudo é novo para ela.
Não posso dizer que os restantes contos sejam maus, porque não o são, mas a verdade é que este livro não me deixou muitas marcas. Mas a culpa também pode ser minha, que raramente preservo na memória livros de contos.
Os de que mais gostei: «Invierno», de Junot Díaz, sobre o desenquadramento de crianças que são forçadas a adaptar-se devido à emigração dos pais; «Clowns in clover», de Nadine Gordimer, sobre a perspetiva das crianças sobre o mundo adulto; «A casa dos animais», de Lídia Jorge, sobre como simples animais mortos podem salvar a vida de uma adolescente; «A minha irmã Cisne», de Katherine Vaz, sobre o amor por uma irmã bebé que não vai durar muito; e «Ilha Teresa» (que depois se transformou todo ele em livro), de Richard Zimler, sobre uma adolescente a ter de lidar com a doença do pai num país em que tudo é novo para ela.
Não posso dizer que os restantes contos sejam maus, porque não o são, mas a verdade é que este livro não me deixou muitas marcas. Mas a culpa também pode ser minha, que raramente preservo na memória livros de contos.
July 16, 2022
A compilação destes contos de vários ficcionistas de renome, por Richard Zimler e Rasa Sekulvic, cujos direitos revertem para a Organização Save The Children, é, sem dúvida, uma delícia.
Escreveram os contos Margaret Atwood, André Brink, Dulce Maria Cardoso, Mia Couto, Junot Díaz, Nadine Gordimer, Elizabeth Hay, Lídia Jorge, Etgar Keret, Alberto Manguel, Ondjaki, Judith Ravenscroft, Ali Smith, Katherine Vaz, Patricia Volk e Richard Zimler.
Os contos fazem jus aos seus autores e abordam várias temáticas relacionadas com crianças. Um livro que traz a memória de tempos da infância, marcada de formas distintas: pelo amor, pela educação rígida, pela solidão, pela violência, pela guerra, pelas desigualdades sociais, pelo abuso, pela amizade, pelas difíceis relações familiares, pelo medo de crescer… As diferenças entre os contos, com as características de cada autor, tornam-no mais rico e completo.
Um bom livro para quem é apreciador de contos e da temática da infância. Recomendo.
Escreveram os contos Margaret Atwood, André Brink, Dulce Maria Cardoso, Mia Couto, Junot Díaz, Nadine Gordimer, Elizabeth Hay, Lídia Jorge, Etgar Keret, Alberto Manguel, Ondjaki, Judith Ravenscroft, Ali Smith, Katherine Vaz, Patricia Volk e Richard Zimler.
Os contos fazem jus aos seus autores e abordam várias temáticas relacionadas com crianças. Um livro que traz a memória de tempos da infância, marcada de formas distintas: pelo amor, pela educação rígida, pela solidão, pela violência, pela guerra, pelas desigualdades sociais, pelo abuso, pela amizade, pelas difíceis relações familiares, pelo medo de crescer… As diferenças entre os contos, com as características de cada autor, tornam-no mais rico e completo.
Um bom livro para quem é apreciador de contos e da temática da infância. Recomendo.
April 21, 2020
I am not a huge fan of the short story form. I prefer to read longer works where you really get into the heads of the characters and come to feel like they are old friends. Short stories are just over too quickly for my tastes, and I often move quickly through collections - consoling myself that there will be another story along in a minute.
But this collection, even for my finicky tastes, was one that managed to grab me again and again. It helped that some of my favourite authors had contributed to the collection - but many stories were by writers I had not really heard of, but will be looking out for in the future. This is a wonderful diverse collection of stories of childhood, that I am very glad I read. What is more, the profits from the book go to a children's charity, so you can feel good about spending the money on it.
But this collection, even for my finicky tastes, was one that managed to grab me again and again. It helped that some of my favourite authors had contributed to the collection - but many stories were by writers I had not really heard of, but will be looking out for in the future. This is a wonderful diverse collection of stories of childhood, that I am very glad I read. What is more, the profits from the book go to a children's charity, so you can feel good about spending the money on it.
August 21, 2012
I loved this anthology of stories about childhood (a mix of fictional & (auto)biographical). Particular favourites: Square by David Liss & Opera In My Head by Meg Rosoff.
November 17, 2024
This was okay but a more diverse collection and one with more stories about girls would have been better.
November 5, 2025
i feel very sad…wow i was a kid once i miss believing in magic wow i miss my childhood friends wow i miss being a child and Understanding Everything to an intensely deeper level than anyone ever…wow.
December 16, 2010
Royalties go to Save the Children and the editors worked for free
I was expecting the stories in this book to have a broader range and scope: it's centered in the jewish/american reality, with a few latin american contributions. I was expecting something more diversified.
Some of the stories are great, Etgar Keret's story about Margolis, the piggy bank has become a personal favorite of mine, but the general level is pretty average.
I was expecting the stories in this book to have a broader range and scope: it's centered in the jewish/american reality, with a few latin american contributions. I was expecting something more diversified.
Some of the stories are great, Etgar Keret's story about Margolis, the piggy bank has become a personal favorite of mine, but the general level is pretty average.
November 30, 2025
Ho riletto questo libro dopo 15 anni perché ne conservavo un buon ricordo e la rilettura conferma, quasi tutti i racconti mi sono piaciuti. I diritti d'autore sono interamente devoluti a Save the Children, prendetelo.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews