Chad Harbach returns after 15 years with 'The Brightness'

After fifteen years of anticipation, Chad Harbach returns to bookstores with 'The Brightness,' the sequel to his acclaimed debut novel 'The Art of Fielding.' The new book, published on October 27, 2026, brings readers back to the world of Westish College, the fictional Wisconsin institution that served as the backdrop for the story of young baseball prodigy Henry Skrimshander.

The protagonist is Pella Affenlicht, now twenty-seven and a college graduate, involved with Mike Schwartz, a former Harpooners player turned coach. Her seemingly tranquil life is shaken by unexpected events, including a feminist protest project by some students that escalates into a national scandal.

Harbach broadens the narrative scope compared to his first novel, tackling current themes such as sexual assaults on campuses, feminism, and the complicated relationship between victimhood and the media. The plot also extends beyond the college's boundaries, with a destination wedding and Pella's subsequent move to New York.

The novel can be read as a standalone work, but fans of the first book will appreciate the return of characters like Owen Dunne and the subtle meta-narrative connections that the author skillfully weaves.