Staff Pick
The delightful and cunning author of The Sisters Brothers returns with another enigmatic, off-kilter tale. Set in a vaguely fairy tale-like land, Undermajordomo Minor traces the wayward path of the young Lucien, who is to begin a new post at the castle of a mysterious baron. Darkly funny and deftly crafted, deWitt's new novel is smart, seductive, and a lot of fun. Recommended By Renee P., Powells.com
The delightful and cunning author of The Sisters Brothers returns with another enigmatic, off-kilter tale. Set in a vaguely fairy tale-like land, Undermajordomo Minor traces the wayward path of the young Lucien, who is to begin a new post at the castle of a mysterious baron. Darkly funny and deftly crafted, deWitt's new novel is smart, seductive, and a lot of fun. Recommended By Renee P., Powells.com
Lucy leaves his childhood home to take a position as "Undermajordomo" at Castle Von Aux; his life will never be the same. A demented Baron, a secret letter, a couple of professional pickpockets, a spawning salmon, a very large hole, and true love, all play integral parts in this quasi modern fairy tale. Portland author Patrick DeWitt carries forward his sparkling wit from The Sisters Brothers, making Undermajordomo Minor a quirky must-read. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From the bestselling, Man Booker-short-listed author of
The Sisters Brothers comes a brilliant and boisterous novel that reimagines the folk tale
A love story, an adventure story, a fable without a moral, and an ink-black comedy of manners, Undermajordomo Minor is Patrick deWitt's long-awaited follow-up to the internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed novel The Sisters Brothers.
Lucien (Lucy) Minor is the resident odd duck in the bucolic hamlet of Bury. Friendless and loveless, young and aimless, Lucy is a compulsive liar, a sickly weakling in a town famous for producing brutish giants. Then Lucy accepts employment assisting the Majordomo of the remote, foreboding Castle Von Aux.
While tending to his new post as Undermajordomo, Lucy soon discovers the place harbors many dark secrets, not least of which being the whereabouts of the castle's master, Baron Von Aux. He also encounters the colorful people of the local village — thieves, madmen, aristocrats, and Klara, a delicate beauty for whose love he must compete with the exceptionally handsome soldier Adolphus. Thus begins a tale of polite theft, bitter heartbreak, domestic mystery, and cold-blooded murder in which every aspect of humanity is laid bare for our hero to observe.
Undermajordomo Minor is an adventure, a mystery, and a searing portrayal of rural Alpine bad behavior, but above all it is a love story — and Lucy must be careful, for love is a violent thing.
Review
“Undermajordomo Minor wears a fairytale cloak, but at its wondrous and fantastical heart lies an unexpectedly moving story about love, home, and the difficulty of finding ones place in the world. Elegant, beautifully strange, and utterly superb.” Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven
Review
“Patrick deWitt has an untrammelled and utterly original imagination. I cannot think of anyone else who could pull off so beautifully this controlled explosion of drollery, mischief, sly fun and tenderness.” Neel Mukherjee, author of The Lives of Others
Review
“An electrifying adventure, both tender and profane. Nervy, hilarious and utterly unpredictable, Patrick deWitt has served up another dazzler.” Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
Review
“Undermajordomo Minor is brutal, brilliant, sly, absurd, and poignant. Its both gripping tale and hilarious subversion. Once again Patrick deWitt proves his wild, original talent, generous wit, and exquisite control.” Sam Lipsyte, author of The Ask
Review
“Undermajordomo Minor is a wonderfully wry and wise novel, and reading it is like coming across some twisted classic-Cervantes by way of Louis C.K. I marvel at all that Patrick deWitt is able to do on the page.” Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins
About the Author
Patrick deWitt is the author of the critically acclaimed Ablutions: Notes for a Novel, as well as The Sisters Brothers, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Born in British Columbia, he has also lived in California and Washington, and now resides in Portland, Oregon.