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Book News, Guests | December 14, 2009

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The Sheltering Sky: A Novel (P.S.)

by Paul Bowles

The Sheltering Sky: A Novel (P.S.) Cover

Staff Pick

I've recently been rereading some of my favorite books; or, at least, what I thought were my favorite books — I was surprised by how few of them I actually enjoyed after all these years. One of the exceptions, however, was Sheltering Sky. If anything, my love and appreciation of this amazing book has only grown with time. This special 50th-anniversary commemorative edition of Bowles's unforgettable first novel includes the original New York Times review by Tennessee Williams and a new preface that the author wrote before he died in 1999.
Recommended by Shawn D., Powells.com

In this cult novel set in Africa after WWII, the author follows the experiences of three young Americans as they are faced with the immensity of an alien culture. Madness, sex, and death — as well as other apocalyptic states — ensue. The book is, quite simply, riveting.
Recommended by Shawn D., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The Sheltering Sky is a landmark of twentieth-century literature. In this intensely fascinating story, Paul Bowles examines the ways in which Americans' incomprehension of alien cultures leads to the ultimate destruction of those cultures.

A story about three American travelers adrift in the cities and deserts of North Africa after World War II, The Sheltering Sky explores the limits of humanity when it touches the unfathomable emptiness and impassive cruelty of the desert.

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Review:

"Stands head and shoulders above most other novels published in English since World War II." New Republic

Review:

"His art far exceeds that of...the greatest American writers of our day." Gore Vidal

Review:

"[The Sheltering Sky] is one of the most original, even visionary, works of fiction to appear in this century." Tobias Wolff

Synopsis:

When The Sheltering Sky was first published in 1949, it established Paul Bowles as one of the most singular and promising writers of the postwar generation. Its startlingly original vision has withstood the test of time and confirmed Tennessee Williams's early estimation: "The Sheltering Sky alone of the books that I have...read by American authors appears to bear the spiritual imprint of recent history in the western world." In this classic work of psychological terror, Bowles examines the ways in which Americans apprehend an alien culture and the ways in which their incomprehension destroys them.

The story of three worldly young travelers — Port Moresby, his wife, Kit, and their friend, Tunner — adrift in the cities and deserts of North Africa after World War II, The Sheltering Sky is merciless in its evocation of the emotional dislocation induced by a foreign setting. As the Americans embark on an ill-fated journey through desolate terrain, they are pushed to the limits of human reason and intelligence by the unfathomable emptiness and impassive cruelty of the desert. Along the way, they encounter a host of enigmatic characters whose inarticulate strangeness seals the travelers off even more completely from the culture in which they are traveling, causing their fierce attachments to one another to unravel.

This special fiftieth anniversary commemorative edition of Bowles's unforgettable first novel includes the original New York Times review by Tennessee Williams and a preface the author wrote for his first novel before he died in 1999.

About the Author

Paul Bowles was born in 1910 and studied music with composer Aaron Copland before moving to Tangier, Morocco, with his wife, Jane. His first novel, The Sheltering Sky, was a bestseller in the 1950s and was made into a film by Bernardo Bertolucci in 1990. Bowles's prolific career included many musical compositions, novels, collections of short stories, and books of travel, poetry, and translations.

Product Details

ISBN:
9780060834821
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
Subject:
Literary
Author:
Bowles, Paul
Author:
by Paul Bowles
Subject:
Americans
Subject:
Morocco
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Love stories
Subject:
Psychological fiction
Copyright:
Edition Number:
Reprint ed.
Series:
P.S.
Publication Date:
September 2005
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
313
Dimensions:
8.06x5.32x.87 in. .54 lbs.

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