This is an auction for OH THE GLORY OF IT ALL by Sean Wilsey.

“This is strange, fascinating, complicated and self-involved memoir about the author's boyhood among San Francisco's social elite. The book contains perhaps the most evil parental figure since Joan Crawford: Dede, the wicked stepmother. Dede allegedly stole Wilsey's father from his mom, banned afternoon TV, monitored Wilsey's phone calls, played endless mind games, told Wilsey to change his favorite colour from red, and on and on. Dede is joined by Wilsey's equally intriguing biological parents. There's his mother, a drama queen who once dated Frank Sinatra, held salons, hosted a talk show, asked Wilsey to commit suicide with her and became a globe-trotting peace activist. And then there's his father, a dairy-business millionaire, helicopter pilot and lothario. These characters form the heart of the book. Wilsey also discusses his pot-steeped days at various boarding schools, including a bizarre cultlike institution in Italy that encouraged weeping and hugging. It's a startlingly honest tale. Sometimes Wilsey comes off as a sympathetic figure, but almost as often, he's completely malevolent. And yet, when you begin to think of the book as just the tale of a poor-little-rich-boy, there's one thing that saves it: the writing, which is vivid, detailed, deep and filled with fresh metaphors.”

• a *** starred *** review in Publishers Weekly (US)

Very favourable reviews on Amazon.com.

Large format (trade) paperback 2005.

482 pages.

Good condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95 (ordinary post) or $6.40 (tracked mail). If you are on rural delivery and want tracked mail, the shipping cost will be $8.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.