John Dufresne is an extraordinary and lyrical storyteller who has been compared to John Irving and William Faulkner. Here he reinvents 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' in the lush bayou's of Louisiana, The same geographical area as James Lee Burke writes about. It makes for very interesting characters. An Advance reading copy is published before the first edition in very small quantities and is therefore more scarce than the first edition. There is a precinct deep in the Louisianna swamp with the unlikely name of 'Shiver-de-Freeze' which is famous for its varied and unusual animals as well as its healing waters. At 'Paradise' the family's ancestral home a wedding is about to take place. But all is not peaceful in the days coming up to this affair.The Grooms cousin is deeply in love with the bride-to-be and the courtship continues even as the cousin's father fights alzheimers. The father realizes his love for the mother of the bride. Just when it seems that the groom must resign himself to a long period of bachelorhood, a recent lover of his comes to town. This book is filled with a cast of beautifully drawn and lively characters. There are quite a few characters here and the complications that ensue when they get together are wonderfully described by Dufresne's sensitivity regarding imagination, love, and memory. Deep in the shade of paradise is a compelling read and Dufresne is one of our finest authors.
Title: Deep in the Shade of Paradise
Edition: 1st Edition Advance
Location Published: New York, Norton: 2001
Binding: Trade Paperback
Book Condition: Near Fine
Jacket Condition: No Jacket
Size: 8vo
Categories: First Editions, Literature
Seller ID: 001870
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