Smith Brad 1957–

PERSONAL: Born 1957

ADDRESSES: Home—Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. Agent—Penguin Group, c/o Viking Publicity, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

CAREER: Writer. Works part-time as a carpenter in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

One-Eyed Jacks, Doubleday Canada (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

All Hat, Picador (New York, NY), 2004.

Busted Flush, Viking Canada (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Canadian writer Brad Smith is the author of several novels. One-Eyed Jacks, his debut work, tells the story of a down-and-out boxer who decides to take on one last fight in an attempt to save his family's farm. All Hat is another story of someone facing hardship—an ex-con who finds himself forced to steal a champion race horse.

With Busted Flush, Smith appears to focus on a character with far better luck. The story follows New Yorker Dock Bass after he learns that he has inherited an old farmhouse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from a mysterious relative he's never met. When Bass goes down to renovate his new property, he discovers a collection of U.S. Civil War memorabilia, including photos of Abraham Lincoln, and an old recording of Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address, as well as a machine on which to play it. The discovery ultimately makes Bass a target of both local and national media, lawyers, and a number of con artists.

In the act of researching One-Eyed Jacks, Smith learned not only about the history of the Civil War—a period he finds fascinating—but discovered the lengths to which modern-day enthusiasts are willing to go to recreate the battles and lifestyles of the era. Harriet Klausner, in a review for MBR Bookwatch, commented that "fans of wild lampooning and historical buffs … will enjoy this sharp edged tale." Booklist contributor Bill Ott called the book an "engaging mix of comedy and caper novel," and concluded that "the ending leans toward sentimental, but like Capra, Smith earns it." A contributor for Kirkus Reviews found the book a "funny, quirky tale that plays pleasing what-if games with the past."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 1, 2005, Bill Ott, review of Busted Flush, p. 823.

Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2005, review of Busted Flush, p. 19.

MBR Bookwatch, March, 2005, Harriet Klausner, review of Busted Flush.

Publishers Weekly, November 22, 2004, review of Busted Flush, p. 36.

ONLINE

Best Reviews, http://www.thebestreviews.com/ (July 8, 2005), "Brad Smith."

Montreal Mirror Online, http://www.montrealmirror.com/ (July 8, 2005), "Brad Smith."