Bread Upon the Waters

From the O. Henry Award–winning author of Rich Man, Poor Man, a Manhattan family is forever altered as a consequence of an act of kindness.

The Strands are a happy family, save for the occasional financial struggle. Allen, the father, has a decent job as a schoolteacher, a lovely wife, and smart, ambitious, and compassionate children. When Allen’s daughter witnesses a mugging, she takes the victim back to the Strand home for help and a warm meal. The Strands have no clue that the man they are helping is Russell Hazen, a powerful and wealthy Wall Street lawyer. In his gratitude, Hazen offers gifts, vacations, networking opportunities—even plastic surgery. But with each reward comes baggage, and soon the Strands begin to lose sight of what matters most in life.

From New York Times–bestselling author Irwin Shaw, Bread Upon the Waters is a masterful story about the way lives interconnect, and how every good deed, no matter how selfless, comes with a price.

“Shaw remains a genial, seductive storyteller, especially adept with money matters and comfy milieus.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[Shaw] always writes immensely readable books.” —The New York Times

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Irwin Shaw including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.