x, 531 pp. 8vo. A novel by the National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize nominee. "Through a layering of historical events beginning in Colonial times and ending in the 1930s, Joyce Carol Oates has created a new American epic in this sweeping chronicle of the fortunes and misfortunes of a family of enterprising and ingenious confidence artists. "Honor is the subject of my story/ for God is theirs; and the Game, ours." So writes the infamous 19th century con man Abraham Licht in his memoir, My Heart Laid Bare, detailing his personal philosophy and his elaborate, highly profitable deceptions. Like a biblical patriarch, Abraham sees his eternity in his children: Thurston and Harwood, the sons who in emulating their father are led to murder; beautiful Millicent, easily her father's equal in the confidence game, but s he's getting promoted! But nothing goes quite as planned: Leo's mom needs help around the house, there are girls on the baseball team, and Leo has to babysit his pesky little cousin, who won't let Leo alone for a second. Of course, Leo's mean sister Eleanor will be around all summer too. This is supposed to be vacation--is Leo going to have any fun at all? Christine McDonnell lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. Brian Karas lives in Rhinebeck, New York."
