Geoffrey Wolff Book order

"A memoir of uncommon grace and self-deprecating charm" (Newsday) that recounts the moral (and sometimes immoral) education of a writer, friend, husband, and father—from the acclaimed author of The Duke of Deception. In this essay collection, Geoffrey Wolff shows us his wildly dysfunctional childhood Christmases—presided over by his con-man father—then shifts to his brash, short-lived teaching career in Istanbul. With dazzling literary agility, Wolff guides us through the surprising, invaluable turns that shaped his path: his victory over the chaos of drink, his open-heart surgery, his life-affirming surrender to the slopes of the Matterhorn, and his transcendent love of family. Long considered a classic, now expanded and back in print after two decades, A Day at the Beach shares Wolff's spirited, elegant, and deeply felt observations on an extraordinary life.

The narrative chronicles the remarkable journey of Joshua Slocum, who became the first person to sail solo around the globe in 1895. His adventurous spirit faced numerous challenges, including hurricanes, shipwrecks, and piracy. Despite achieving fame, Slocum's later life was marred by scandal and financial difficulties, leading to his mysterious disappearance a decade after his historic voyage. Geoffrey Wolff provides an insightful and authoritative exploration of Slocum's adventurous life, highlighting both his triumphs and personal tragedies.

The book features an insightful afterword by the author, providing readers with additional context and reflections on the themes and experiences presented throughout the narrative. This added commentary enhances the reader's understanding and connection to the story, offering a deeper exploration of the author's intentions and insights.

Duke Wolff was a flawless specimen of the American clubman—a product of Yale and the OSS, a one-time fighter pilot turned aviation engineer. Duke Wolff was a failure who flunked out of a series of undistinguished schools, was passed up for military service, and supported himself with desperately improvised scams, exploiting employers, wives, and, finally, his own son.In The Duke of Deception, Geoffrey Wolff unravels the enigma of this Gatsbyesque figure, a bad man who somehow was also a very good father, an inveterate liar who falsified everything but love.