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I am Elijah Thrush

James Purdy's controversial new novel is the story of Millicent De Frayne and her sensational half century campaign to win the love of Elijah Thrush. Elijah, after ruining the lives of countless men and women, is finally in love "incorrectly, if not indecently," with his great-grandson, Bird of Heaven. In order to support an unusual habit, a young black man reluctantly agrees to tell their remarkable story.

James Purdy recounts this comedy with a delicately controlled balance of whimsy and pathos, of the heroic and the bizarre. Outrageous, yet tender and oddly moving, the book reflects a surprising new facet of Purdy's remarkable talent.

[From the first edition dust jacket.]

  • Format
  • paperback
  • Pages
  • 128
  • Language
  • english
  • ISBN
  • 9780854490127
  • Genres
  • gay
  • Release date
  • 1986