Less

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A struggling novelist travels the world to dodge an awkward wedding in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel celebrated for its "arresting lyricism and beauty" (New York Times Book Review). As a failed novelist approaching fifty, he receives an invitation to his ex-boyfriend's wedding, which he can't accept or decline without feeling defeated. Instead, he seizes the opportunity to flee, accepting a series of literary event invitations around the globe. Arthur Less's journey takes him from nearly falling in love in Paris to a near-death experience in Berlin, escaping a sandstorm in Morocco, and accidentally becoming the sole writer-in-residence at a Christian retreat in India. On a desert island in the Arabian Sea, he unexpectedly confronts someone he never wanted to see again. Amidst these escapades, he grapples with love, loss, and turning fifty. This tale is a scintillating satire on the American experience abroad, exploring themes of time and the human heart, as well as a bittersweet romance filled with missed opportunities. With a blend of humor and poignancy, the author, praised as "inspired" and "lyrical," showcases a writer at the height of his craft, illuminating our shared human comedy.