The Raven. by Peter Landesman - 1997.

New York, NY Penguin Books, 1997. Paperback First Edition Thus (1995), First Printing indicated by a complete numerical sequence. First published by Baskerville in in 1995. Near Fine in Wraps: shows indications of very careful use: just a hint of wear to the extremities; rather deep tanning to the text pages, due to aging; the binding is square and secure; the text is clean. Free of creases to the panels. Free of creases to the backstrip. Free of creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. Free of any ownership names, dates, addresses, notations, inscriptions, stamps, plates, or labels. A handsome, very near-to-new copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing the mildest wear and a couple of unobtrusive cosmetic flaws. Close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. (7.75 x 5.15 x 0.7 inches). 356 pages. Language: English. Weight: 9.4 ounces. First published by Baskerville in in 1995. Trade Paperback. Winner of the Sue Kaufman Award for First Fiction. Peter Landesman has crafted a careful exploration of small-town tragedy and loss, set against the backdrop of the rugged coast of Maine. Having lived in the Orr's/Bailey Island region in the past, I was already well-familiar with the area (though not with the real historical events on which the book is based); Landesman does a phenomenal job capturing the landscape and its people without sounding too much like an outsider looking in. The prose is, at times, astounding--it's remarkable to think "The Raven" is Landesman's first novel; there are subtle echoes here of Faulkner and Joyce, but the style is uniquely the author's own. Most impressive is his ability to draw with painstaking detail the inner lives of his characters, from brooding Ezra to ghost-plagued Mavis, while maintaining an intricate, fascinating plot.