Less (novel) explained

Less
Author:Andrew Sean Greer
Illustrator:Lilli Carré[1]
Cover Artist:Leo Espinosa (art)[2]
Julianna Lee (design)
Country:United States
Publisher:Lee Boudreaux Books
Pub Date:July 18, 2017[3]
Pages:272[4]
Awards:Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2018)
Isbn:978-0-316-31612-5
Oclc:962814984
Dewey:813/.54
Congress:PS3557.R3987 L47 2017
Followed By:Less Is Lost

Less is a 2017 satirical comedy novel by American author Andrew Sean Greer. The plot follows writer Arthur Less as he travels the world on a literary tour to numb his loss of the man he loves.

The novel won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The sequel Less Is Lost was published in 2022.[5]

Plot

Arthur Less is a 49-year-old gay writer of middling success from San Francisco, known primarily for having once been in a relationship with an older gentleman, Robert Brownburn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. He first experienced moderate success with his debut novel, but in the decades since has struggled to garner the same success. His most recent novel, Swift, has recently been rejected by his publisher. Arthur, who is dreading his 50th birthday, is suddenly invited to the wedding of his ex-sweetheart, Freddy Pelu. In an attempt to avoid the wedding, Arthur goes on an extensive overseas trip after accepting invitations to the numerous literary engagements which he typically declines.

He first travels to New York City to interview writer H.H.H. Mandern, and then to Mexico City for a conference about Robert. In Turin, Arthur attends an award ceremony where, to his surprise, he wins. He later accepts a teaching offer for a creative writing seminar in Berlin. After a layover in Paris where he meets an old friend, Arthur travels to Morocco to celebrate his 50th birthday in the Sahara. He eventually arrives in India, where he accepts a writer-in-residence at a Christian retreat community in Kerala. Finally, he travels to Japan to write as a food critic. After hearing that Robert has suffered a stroke, Arthur returns home to San Francisco where he finds Freddy there waiting for him.

Background

The book covers themes such as romantic love, relationships, aging, and travel. Greer began writing Less as a "very serious novel" but found that "the only way to write about [being gay and aging] is to make it a funny story. And I found that by making fun of myself, I could actually get closer to real emotion – closer to what I wanted in my more serious books."

Reception

Less won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.[6] In reporting the award, the Associated Press accidentally wrote the novel's title as "Fearless."[7] The book also was a New York Times best seller, won the Northern California Book Award, and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.[8] In May 2019, Less won International Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Andrew Sean Greer. Andrew Sean Greer. Enrico Rotelli. Andrew Sean Greer "Art Is Transforming". Klat Magazine. October 23, 2017. November 13, 2022.
  2. Book: Andrew Sean Greer. Less (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize): A Novel. 18 July 2017. Little, Brown. 978-0-316-31614-9. 1–.
  3. March 16, 2017. The On-Sale Calendar: July 2017. Publishers Weekly. October 14, 2022.
  4. News: Buckley . Christopher . June's Book Club Pick: 'Less,' by Andrew Sean Greer . . July 24, 2017 . August 6, 2018.
  5. News: Thomas-Corr. Johanna. September 18, 2022. Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer review – diminishing returns. The Observer. October 14, 2022.
  6. Web site: Less, by Andrew Sean Greer (Lee Boudreaux Books/Little, Brown and Company) . The Pulitzer Prizes . August 6, 2018.
  7. News: Charles . Ron . Finally, a comic novel gets a Pulitzer Prize. It's about time. . . August 6, 2018 . April 17, 2018.
  8. Web site: Less, a novel . Andrew Sean Greer . August 6, 2018.
  9. Web site: 2019 Winners Announced . ABIA . May 2, 2019 . 5 May 2019.