“Ox Tales”
“Air,” “Earth,” “Fire,” “Water”
Profile Books, $9.95 each
This visually alluring set of four books, sold separately, benefits Oxfam’s efforts to end poverty. The four classical elements highlight Oxfam’s work and provide a framework for the books: “Air” (climate change), ¿¿¿Earth¿¿¿ (agricultural development), ¿¿¿Fire¿¿¿ (aid for conflict areas) and ¿¿¿Water¿¿¿ (obviously, water projects). About 38 British and Irish authors contributed original fiction, and the groupings correspond very generously to the topics. Vikram Seth sets the tone with separate introductions, and each volume bursts with a different energy. I’m partial to ¿¿¿Fire,¿¿¿ with the contributors Lionel Shriver, John LeCarre, Mark Haddon and Jeanette Winterson, and I look forward to ¿¿¿Water,¿¿¿ with Zoe Heller, William Boyd and Joanna Trollope next.