The clumsy and charismatic hero who won the hearts of thousands of readers in The Unfortunate Events of Arthur Less and earned Andrew Sean Greer the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is back on an unforgettable road trip across the United States.
Contrary to all expectations, life is going well for Arthur Less: he's a relatively successful author, enjoying a relatively stable relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But not everything is rosy: the death of a former love and a sudden financial crisis force Less to flee his problems once again by accepting a series of literary gigs that force him to crisscross the United States.
Less wanders from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast, where he was born, and along the way encounters a myriad of peculiar characters, to say the least, alongside his faithful companion: a black pug named Dolly and a converted van named Rosina. He grows a mustache, abandons his signature gray suit, and disguises himself, with a tie and cowboy hat, as a genuine American... a disguise that doesn't always work so well, as he keeps being mistaken for either a Dutchman—long story, better read the book to understand—or another Arthur Less—not the priest, nor the farmer, nor the actor—or, worst of all, a "terrible gay."
But Less's journey makes it clear that one cannot escape oneself—no matter how many deserts, swamps, and coastlines one crosses. Arthur Less must face his personal demons: from his estranged father and his now long-distance relationship with Freddy to recognizing and facing his privilege.
With the wit and musicality that made The Unfortunate Events of Arthur Less a Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller, Less Is Lost is a profound and entertaining novel about the mysteries of life, the enigmas of love, and the stories we tell along the way.
“Andrew Sean Greer follows up the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Misadventures of Arthur Less with another wonderful road trip story starring middle-aged writer Arthur Less. Greer combines a good deal of humor with poignant moments. Fans will devour this book.” – Publisher's Weekly
