by Gene Wilder
Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Mar 2007
197 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
The beloved actor and screenwriter’s first novel, set during World War I, delicately and elegantly explores a most unusual romance. It’s almost the end of the war and Paul Peachy, a young railway employee and amateur actor in Milwaukee, realizes his marriage is one-sided. He enlists, and ships off to France. Peachy instantly realizes how out of his depth he is—and never more so than when he is captured. Risking everything, Peachy—who as a child of immigrants speaks German—makes the reckless decision to impersonate one of the enemy’s most famous spies.
As the urbane and accomplished spy Harry Stroller, Peachy has access to a world he could never have known existed—a world of sumptuous living, world-weary men, and available women. But when one of those women—Annie, a young, beautiful and wary courtesan—turns out to be more than she seems, Peachy’s life is transformed forever.
"A simple, straight-faced love story about a brave coward and a scarlet woman drives actor Wilder's touching debut novel." - PW.
"Modest but satisfying, if unabashedly sentimental." - Kirkus.
"Outwardly sweet and simple, it has delightful complications and an ending that may surprise. Recommended for all public libraries." - Library Journal.
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This is Wilder's first novel following his 2005 memoir Kiss Me Like a Stranger.
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