“A book that works both as a paean to art and beauty and a subtly sly comedy of manners.”—Janet
Maslin New York Times A beautifully designed edition of number-one New York Times bestselling
author Ann Patchett’s prized classic annotated and with an introduction by the author herself.
"Tremendous fun... Rereading this terrific novel with [Patchett]... is a master class in
fiction writing conveyed in marginalia that has the tone of an ideal dinner conversation." —Ron
Charles The Washington Post First published in 2001 Bel Canto is possibly Ann Patchett’s most
beloved novel. Set in an unnamed South American country at the home of the vice president it
is the story of a lavish birthday party honoring Mr. Hosokawa a powerful Japanese businessman.
Roxanne Coss opera’s most revered soprano has enthralled the international guests with a
mesmerizing performance. The evening is perfect—until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes
the entire party hostage. But in Patchett’s skilled hands what begins as a panicked
life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different a moment of great
beauty as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents
become compatriots. Friendship compassion and the chance for great love lead the characters
to forget the real danger that has been set in motion—and cannot be stopped. Now more than two
decades after this bold and artistically daring novel’s debut Patchett revisits her early
work. In this special annotated edition the acclaimed prize-winning author opens the story to
readers providing enlightening commentary on her original version including reflections on
her narrative choices and style. A mature writer looking back at her younger self Patchett
takes us deep into her creative process and considers her career and growth as an artist from
that novel to her most recent Tom Lake. Funny full of insight informal and often
unexpectedly moving this annotated edition is an intimate encounter with a celebrated novelist
an opportunity to reconsider a great work through her eyes and a guide for anyone who wants to
understand how a novel takes form.
