The Kissing Man

by George Elliott

"The Kissing Man" is a classic short story sequence of eleven, set in southwestern Ontario in the middle of the twentieth century. The rural setting is real and recognizable: the dry-goods store, the Queen's Hotel, the mill-pond, the axe-handle factory, the Anglican cemetery, and the barber shop. The stories are other-worldly fables or fairy tales, mixing the everyday with the extraordinary and the mundane with the marvellous.

The 'kissing man' appears mysteriously and transforms the lives of the lonely. He doesn't cure them of their fear or need but he provides small moments of solace with his compassion and understanding.

130 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

George Matthew Elliott was born July 4, 1923 in London, Ontario. He attended University Of Toronto, where he edited the student newspaper, "The Varsity". When the Second World War broke out, his poor eyesight prevented military service and he became editor of "Strathroy Age-Dispatch", while acting as a Strathroy correspondent for the "London Free Press". He later became a reporter and city editor with the "Timmins Daily Press". His career in journalism preceded an even more successful career as an advertising executive.

In 1962, he published his first work of fiction, "The Kissing Man". He uses the southwestern Ontario world of his childhood as the setting of eleven conneted short stories that examine the continuing communal traditions among three generations of characters. Other works are: "God's Big Acre: Life In 401 Country", 1986, "The Bittersweet Man", 1994, and "Crazy Water Boys", 1995.

Goderich-born Thomas Rose Elliott ('T.R. Elliott') is George's father. He was an editor at ”The London Free Press” in 1919. George was born when the family lived on Bruce Street. By 1926, Thomas was a city editor at the old ”London Advertiser”. His career took him to General Motors and the Oshawa area. He was a fiction author of note too. He retired in Île d'Orléans, Québec and passed away there May 18, 1996.

Reviews

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first time I disliked literature that was praised, I wondered if I was missing a scholarly trait that made others appreciative. However I confidently understand that some oeuvres do not fulfill what I value in literature. I see merit in other things, thus low marks are rare. Among elements George Elliott could control, did I like his suite? No. I disliked too much about “The Kissing Man”, hence a one-star grade. A portion of feedback certainly reflects personal enjoyment but I would have graded higher if I could acknowledge anything else about it.

I delighted in some short stories; seldom but I am open to liking them. Mordecai Richler ranted in his suite that this genre is undervalued, that it is hard to develop a story without the breadth of a novel. I only liked his a little better. I hope it isn't standard that short stories are grim, with conclusions implied rather than clear cut and that only by chance, has this been my impression. None of George's were in the least happy: depressing and defeatist, actually. He wins the prize for doing worse than being vague. Astute though I am, I only once or twice gleaned what any stories were about. The titular kissing man appeared once and this collection is hardly mystical, as attributed by the synopsis. Subtlety, lacking resolution are techniques. Not ascertaining a story's point is never good.

How nice that George wrote about his hometown but he taught us nothing about it. He only conveyed dreariness. In a longer tale, we might identify: the twins' birthmother, what a doctor buried in his backyard, and what in the hell was on an Irish family's neck that another lady contracted! What is clear is that I am turned off from further reading, were answers available.

[Ibis3]

NCL.2006-10-01