The Nephew

by James Purdy

Book Overview

Discarded library book. Will ship immediately. Expedited shipping is available. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0017KXFEK
• Release Date: January 1960
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A true hidden gem

The 64-word opening sentence of "The Nephew" contains more information than some whole novels. It also introduces the quietly dazzling craftsmanship of a writer who should have been far better known than he was. I frankly had never heard of James Purdy until I saw his obituary in March 2009, and he seemed so intriguing that I found a couple of his out-of-print books, of which this was the first. "The Nephew" is an exquisite sketch of characters and place, like a line drawing with just a few pale colors filled in, leaving the reader to imagine the rest. It is a small story, not a sweeping epic, with a handful of players set in an inconsequential town, most of them well along in years, each struggling in their own way with a vexing mystery. The result is a delicate, almost hushed tale that ends quietly, not so far from where it began. But you'll be very glad you went along.