Ladies of the Rachmaninoff Eyes

Synopsis

In a quiet Michigan town during the late 1950s, seventeen-year-old Oliver has been raised between two extraordinary women: Etta Klein, a wealthy Jewish widow still haunted by the loss of her son, and Harriet Gibbs, her fiercely loyal Black companion and housekeeper. Their eccentric household has settled into a rhythm of affection, bickering, and shared grief, until the arrival of a flamboyant self-proclaimed warlock who promises to contact the dead. As long-buried secrets begin to surface, Oliver finds himself navigating first love, family loyalties, and the uncertain path toward adulthood.

Originally published in 1965 and long unavailable, Ladies of the Rachmaninoff Eyes is a dazzling rediscovery of American literature. At once deeply funny and quietly moving, Henry Van Dyke's debut blends high comedy with psychological insight, creating an unforgettable coming-of-age novel that feels both decades ahead of its time and entirely its own. Elegant, witty, and deeply humane, it stands alongside the work of Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, and Ronald Firbank while remaining unmistakably original.

About the Author

Henry Van Dyke (1928–2011) was an American novelist born in Michigan and raised in Alabama. After serving in the U.S. Army in postwar Germany, he settled in New York and published four novels over the course of his career. Openly gay at a time when few writers were, Van Dyke crafted fiction distinguished by its wit, elegance, and refusal to conform to the expectations placed upon Black writers of his era. This edition includes a foreword by his nephew and literary executor, Erik Wood.

Publisher

McNally Editions

Publication Date

January 30, 2024

Format

Paperback

Pages

192

Subjects

Literary Fiction · African American Literature · LGBTQ+ Fiction · Historical Fiction · Coming-of-Age Fiction · Classic Literature

ISBN

9781946022882