Decadence

A collection of essays, ranging from the personal to the humorously mundane, Decadence spans a decade in the life of writer Richard Kelly Kemick.

The subjects of these essays are far-ranging, including Christmas villages, volleyball, municipal landfills, high-school plays, and dog fur. They feature the same rotating cast of characters: friends, family, Litia—Kemick’s partner of ten years—and their newborn son.

Throughout the course of Decadence, a narrative is gradually revealed. The collection begins with the early days of Kemick’s relationship with his long-time partner; the collection closes with the surprising, unconventional end to their romance. In the pages between, Kemick creates a repository of humour and epiphany that make up the odds and ends of living.

These essays are for fans of David Sedaris and David Rakoff. However, unlike the books published by these authors, Decadence puts on display the writer’s evolution. The contents, in chronological order, span the ten years it took Kemick to write this collection, revealing a gradual shift in his voice and priorities.