William Gaddis (1922-98) stands among the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. The winner of two National Book Awards (for "J R" [1976] and "A Frolic of His Own" [1995]), he wrote five novels during his lifetime, including "Carpenter's Gothic "(1985), "Agap? Agape" (published posthumously in 2002), and his early masterpiece "The Recognitions" (1955). He is loved and admired for his stylistic innovations, his unforgettable characters, his pervasive humor, and the breadth of his intellect and vision.

"The lonesome wife is, plainly, poetry lonesome for the poet: if she is truly courted and loved, instead of insultingly 'had,' she will respond accordingly and save the language." --Nathaniel Tarn, New York Times "A physically exciting literary text." --Larry McCaffery