That Old Ace in the Hole

(Paperback)

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The new novel from Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Proulx, author of THE SHIPPING NEWS. A richly textured story of one man's struggle to make good in the inhospitable ranch country of the Texas panhandle, told with razor wit and a masterly sense of place. 'An absolute corker of a novel which manages the dual feat of being a serious satire on the evils of global capitalism, and a personal comedy of Dickensian dimensions. ' A N Wilson, Daily TelegraphSome folks in the Texas panhandle do not like hog farms. But Bob Dollar, the newly-hired hog site scout for Global Pork Rind, intends to do his job. Bob must contend with tough men and women like ancient Freda Beautyrooms who controls a ranch he covets, and Ace Crouch, the windmiller who defies the hog farms. As Bob settles in at La Von Fronk's bunkhouse and lends a hand at Cy Frease's Old Dog Cafe, he is forced to question everything. 'Proulx's own ace in the hole is her brilliance at evoking place and landscape. She sets about drawing the vast distances and parched flatlands of Texas with almost immeasurable skill. ' Alex Clark, Guardian'Amusing, intriguing and disturbing. ' Mark Sanderson, Independent on Sunday'A kind-hearted and intelligent novel. ' Daily Telegraph'Proulx has a first class eye and ear. ' Adam Mars-Jones, Observer'Brilliantly written. ' Peter Kemp, Sunday Times 'Funny and heartfelt. ' Scotsman

Reviews

'Sometimes the laughs are prompted by joyously well-jointed plot devices, or by Proulx's small, absurd observations. As often as not, the humour comes from the unmistakable edginess and quirkiness of Proulx's prose. It is hard to think of any living writer who deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Dickens, with the exception of Proulx.' A N Wilson, New Statesman'The travels and travails of Bob Dollar, and his habit of asking garrlous locals to tell stories about the old days, allow her to build up a rich and many-layered portrait of the region. The reader gets to pluck the fruits of all that research and through the magic of her prose become engrossed in subjects like windmill repairs and the history of barbed wire.' Richard Grant, Telegraph Magazine'There's any amount of Texas panhandle lore between these covers, lovingly passed on. It's fascinating stuff...Proulx has a first class eye and ear.' Adam Mars-Jones, Observer'That Old Ace in the Hole opens up a wealth of material on the Panhandles and America at large, some of it distasteful. But its spirit is questioning, cherishing of individuality and egalitarian. Proulx is a novelist of serious ideas, but she does not allow her ideas to impose on her subject matter; and she never forgets that those who visit her novels come above all for their stories.' Ruth Scurr, TLS'Proulx is a great American writer, none better.' Elaine Showalter, Literary Review'A great portrait of a rich, raw place that Proulx brings to vivid life. She finds the wonder in the minutae of the Panhandle existence and transforms the dust bowl into a mesmerising spectacle. Saddle up. You're going to enjoy the ride.' Big Issue 'A host of eccentric and engaging characters. Proulx's profile has never been higher. ' Bookseller'This eagerly awaited sucessor [to The Shipping News] has the same richly textured quality as all the author's finest work. The beleagured Bob is one of the author's finest creations, and the use of idiomatic dialogue here is perfectly judged.' Publishing News

Author Bio

E. Annie Proulx is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Shipping News" and the acclaimed 'Accordion Crimes'. She was born in 1935 in Connecticut USA, where her family have lived since 1635, but has spent most of her life in Vermont. She has been a newspaper editor, medical writer, historian and author. Her first book was a collection of short stories, 'Heart Songs and Other Stories'. Her first novel, 'Postcards', was published when she was in her 50s.