A Ball of Fire collects the short stories of John Montague that have appeared in two collections. Death of a Chieftain and A Love Present. It also includes the early novella The Lost Notebook. While John Montague is better-known for his poetry, his prose is similarly exact and evocative. This collection shows the timelessness of his work and its themes of alienation, longing and hidden tensions. John Montague is one of Ireland's leading poets, and his work, which draws on that of various American masters, is recognized as being of international importance. He is the recipient of various awards, and his many published works include his recent memoir The Pear is Ripe, also available from Dufour. His 80th birthday is in February 2009.