About the book
A rich, haunting novel of street life in San Francisco’s Mission District, from the National Book Award-winning author of Europe Central
In The Royal Family, William T. Vollmann uses the story of two brothers to construct a haunting series of parallels between the lives of the dispossessed and the anxious middle class. Henry Tyler is a failing private detective in San Francisco. When the love of his life, Irene--who happens to be married to his brother John, an ambitious contract lawyer--commits suicide, he clings despairingly to her ghost. Struggling to turn his grief into something precious, Henry enters into a new life of nightmare beauty and degradation as he attempts to track down the legendary Queen of the Prostitutes.
Crafted out of language by turns eloquent, humorous, sensual, and obscene, and full of vividly rendered depictions of low-life bars, office politics, and hobo camps, here are Vollmann's familiar but ever surprising characters--the seekers, the vigilantes, the hypocrites, the sex workers. He has woven their stories into a vivid and unforgettable novel about the eerie paradoxes of possession and loss.
Editions of The Royal Family
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780670891672
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780141002002
- EBook
- ISBN 9781101221563
Read an Excerpt
A rich, haunting novel of street life in San Francisco’s Mission District, from the National Book Award-winning author of Europe Central
In The Royal Family, William T. Vollmann uses the story of two brothers to construct a haunting series of parallels between the lives of the dispossessed and the anxious middle class. Henry Tyler is a failing private detective in San Francisco. When the love of his life, Irene--who happens to be married to his brother John, an ambitious contract lawyer--commits suicide, he clings despairingly to her ghost. Struggling to turn his grief into something precious, Henry enters into a new life of nightmare beauty and degradation as he attempts to track down the legendary Queen of the Prostitutes.
Crafted out of language by turns eloquent, humorous, sensual, and obscene, and full of vividly rendered depictions of low-life bars, office politics, and hobo camps, here are Vollmann's familiar but ever surprising characters--the seekers, the vigilantes, the hypocrites, the sex workers. He has woven their stories into a vivid and unforgettable novel about the eerie paradoxes of possession and loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Royal Family about?
A rich, haunting novel of street life in San Francisco’s Mission District, from the National Book Award-winning author of Europe Central
In The Royal Family, William T. Vollmann uses the story of two brothers to construct a haunting series of parallels between the lives of the dispossessed and the anxious middle class. Henry Tyler is a failing private detective in San Francisco. When the love of his life, Irene--who happens to be married to his brother John, an ambitious contract lawyer--commits suicide, he clings despairingly to her ghost. Struggling to turn his grief into something precious, Henry enters into a new life of nightmare beauty and degradation as he attempts to track down the legendary Queen of the Prostitutes.
Crafted out of language by turns eloquent, humorous, sensual, and obscene, and full of vividly rendered depictions of low-life bars, office politics, and hobo camps, here are Vollmann's familiar but ever surprising characters--the seekers, the vigilantes, the hypocrites, the sex workers. He has woven their stories into a vivid and unforgettable novel about the eerie paradoxes of possession and loss.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Royal Family?
Fiction > Adventure / action fiction
Where can I read a sample of The Royal Family?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780670891672
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Royal Family?
William T. Vollmann
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Royal Family is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780670891672) and paperback(ISBN 9780141002002) and ebook(ISBN 9781101221563)
Where can I buy The Royal Family online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Royal Family from below
Where can I buy The Royal Family?