本書作者伊桑·霍剋那略帶憂鬱氣質的俊朗外錶和他在《死亡詩社》、《訓練日》(獲奧斯卡錶演奬提名)以及《日齣之前》等經典影片中的錶演，多年來在無數影迷的心中留下瞭難以磨滅的印象。這位會說流利的法語德語、擅長鋼琴提琴、兼具偶像外形和演技實力的天纔演員，其多纔多藝和奮發嚮上一嚮被圈內同仁認同。除瞭為歌手寫歌、創辦劇團、攜前妻烏瑪·瑟曼執導《切爾西大牆》並獲成功外，他在小說創作上展露的纔華更讓人對他颳目相看。繼推齣瞭第一部愛情小說《最炎熱的州》後，又寫下瞭這本廣受好評的《聖灰星期三》。書中主人公對童年和父母的迴憶，讓許多讀者聯想到作者自身的經曆，因而具有一定的自傳色彩。

From the actor, director, and writer Ethan Hawke: a piercing novel of love, marriage, and renewal. Jimmy is AWOL from the army, but--with characteristic fierceness and terror--he's about to embark on the biggest commitment of his life. Christy is pregnant with Jimmy's child, and she's determined to head home, with or without Jimmy, to face up to her past and prepare for the future. Somehow, barreling across America from Albany to New Orleans to Ohio and Texas in a souped-up Chevy Nova, Christy and Jimmy are transformed from passionate but conflicted lovers into a young family on a magnificent journey. Ash Wednesday is a novel of blazing emotion and remarkable grace, a tale that captures the intensity--the excitement, fear, and joy--of being on the threshold of the mysterious country of marriage and parenthood. Powerful, assured, large of heart, and punctuated by moments of tremendous humor, it represents, for Hawke the novelist, a major leap forward.