Fireflies in Manhattan

by Umar Kayam

Fireflies in Manhattan, a collection of short stories by Umar Kayam, brings together significant works representing the three major focal points of this his literary career: stories about New York City, with an archetypal cast of New York characters; stories about the 1965 abortive Communist coup which remain unmatched for their sympathy towards innocent victims; and a series of poignant stories about Lebaran, that time in the Muslim year when homesickness is most felt by people who have moved far from home. The stories produced by Kayam during his literary career vary greatly in subject matter and tone. What binds them together is that in each and every one, one hears the voice of the common man.