Where Three Roads Meet (Tell Me; I've Been Told- A Story's Story; As I Was Saying)

From the acclaimed John Barth, "one of the greatest novelists of our time" (Washington Post Book World) and "a master of language" (Chicago Sun-Times), comes a lively triad of tales that delight in the many possibilities of language and its users. The first novella, "Tell Me," explores a callow undergraduate's initiation into the mysteries of sex, death, and the Heroic Cycle. The second novella, "I've Been Told," traces no less than the history of storytelling and examines innocence and modernity, ignorance and self-consciousness. And the three elderly sisters of the third novella, "As I Was Saying . . . ," record an oral history of their youthful muse-like services to (and servicings of) a subsequently notorious and now mysteriously vanished novelist. Sexy, humorous, and brimming with Barth's deep intelligence and playful irreverence, Where Three Roads Meet will surely delight loyal fans and draw new ones. John Barth is the author of numerous works of fiction,...

From the acclaimed John Barth, one of the greatest novelists of our time (Washington Post Book World) and a master of language (Chicago Sun-Times), comes a lively triad of tales that delight in the many possibilities of language and its users.

The first novella, Tell Me, explores a callow undergraduate's initiation into the mysteries of sex, death, and the Heroic Cycle. The second novella, I've Been Told, traces no less than the history of storytelling and examines innocence and modernity, ignorance and self-consciousness. And the three elderly sisters of the third novella, As I Was Saying . . . , record an oral history of their youthful muse-like services to (and servicings of) a subsequently notorious and now mysteriously vanished novelist.

Sexy, humorous, and brimming with Barth's deep intelligence and playful irreverence, Where Three Roads Meet will surely delight loyal fans and draw new ones.

John Barth is the author of numerous works of fiction, including The Sot-Weed Factor, The Tidewater Tales, Lost in the Funhouse, The Last Voyage of Somebody the Sailor, the National Book Award winner Chimera, and most recently The Book of Ten Nights and a Night. He taught for many years in the writing program at Johns Hopkins University.

Teller, tale, torrid . . . inspiration: Barth's seventeenth book brings these three narrative 'roads' together inimitably, and thrice. [Where Three Roads Meet] employs all of his familiar devices-alliteration, shifts in diction and time, puns-to tease and titillate, while at the same time articulate-obliquely, sadly, angrily, gloriously-a farewell to language and its objects: us.-Publishers Weekly, starred review

From the National Book Award winner, three linked novellas that “will stretch your mind, challenge your thoughts, and bend your reality” (Charlotte Observer).John Barth, “one of the greatest novelists of our time” (Washington Post Book World) and “the master of experimental fiction” (Details), presents a lively triad of tales that delight in the many possibilities of language and its users.The first novella, “Tell Me,” explores a callow undergraduate's initiation into the mysteries of sex, death, and the Heroic Cycle. The second, “I've Been Told,” traces no less than the history of storytelling and examines innocence and modernity, ignorance and self-consciousness. And the three elderly sisters of “As I Was Saying... ” record an oral history of their youthful muse-like services to (and servicing of) a subsequently notorious and now mysteriously vanished novelist.Sexy, humorous, and brimming with Barth's deep intelligence and playful irreverence, Where Three Roads Meet “employs all of his familiar devices—alliteration, shifts in diction and time, puns—to tease and titillate, while at the same time articulate—obliquely, sadly, angrily, gloriously—a farewell to language and its objects: us” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).“Barth is markedly intelligent about language and often very funny.” —The New York Times“Perhaps the most prodigally gifted comic novelist writing in English today.” —Newsweek From The Acclaimed John Barth Comes A Lively Triad Of Tales That Delight In The Many Possibilities Of Language And Its Users. The First Novella, Tell Me, Explores A Callow Undergraduate's Initiation Into The Mysteries Of Sex, Death, And The Heroic Cycle. The Second Novella, I've Been Told, Traces No Less Than The History Of Storytelling And Examines Innocence And Modernity, Ignorance And Self-consciousness. And The Three Elderly Sisters Of The Third Novella, As I Was Saying ..., Record An Oral History Of Their Youthful Muse-like Services To (and Servicings Of) A Subsequently Notorious And Now Mysteriously Vanished Novelist. Sexy, Humorous, And Brimming With Barth's Deep Intelligence And Playful Irreverence, Where Three Roads Meet Will Surely Delight Loyal Fans And Draw New Ones.--jacket. Tell Me -- I've Been Told -- As I Was Saying. John Barth. Exploring the themes of heroism, sex, and death, a trio of novellas includes "Tell Me," about a young undergraduate's initiation into the mysteries of love, life, and the heroic cycle