Greed. Envy. Sex. Property. In her subversively funny and genuinely moving newnovel Jane Smiley nails down several American obsessions with the expertise ofa ma... » 

Greed. Envy. Sex. Property. In her subversively funny and genuinely moving newnovel Jane Smiley nails down several American obsessions with the expertise ofa master carpenter. Forthright likable Joe Stratford is the kind of localbusinessman everybody trusts for good reason. But its 1982 and even in Joessmall town values are in upheaval not just property values either. EnterMarcus Burns a wouldbe master of the universe whose years with the IRS havetaught him which rules are meant to be broken. Before long he and Joe are newbest friendsand partners in an investment venture so complex that no one mayever understand it. Add to this Joes roller coaster affair with his mentorsmarried daughter. The result is as suspenseful and entertaining as any of JaneSmileys fiction. «