1871: Rivers on Fire commemorates the sesquicentennial of the deadliest fire in the recorded history of the world -- on the same night as one of the most infamous destructions of a city by means of fire. The book is part historical novel, and part a love story with interweavings of triumph, treachery, and heartbreak. It addresses our nation's long-held sense of exceptionalism, our treatment of minority groups, and issues related to the environment. It contemplates the enigmatic workings of the brain in its ability to create language. Finally, it reflects upon the mysteries of the spiritual and materialistic components of life.