Constantly shifting time and point-of-view, Garrett's latest novel reads like Tristram Shandy as written by Faulkner. It starts as a detective novel, becomes a meditation on Martin Luther King, and ends as a whirlwind tour through the absurdities of the twentieth century. One of the last true American men of letters, Garrett is a critic, poet, essayist, and novelist of astounding talent, and he generously fills this book with jokes, history, and a colorful cast of characters. Think of it as Southern gothic meets burlesque.

Chris Hodgdon