Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
The pursuit of Eros, the yearning for intimacy, and the struggle to reconcile bisexuality with a longing for children -- these are the desires etched in the hearts of the characters of this brave and probing novel by the award-winning author of Clara's Heart and Nightswimmer.
The moment that Sam Solomon, the protagonist of Vanitas, is transfixed by an erotic drawing that hangs in the apartment of a dying art dealer, Elliot Garland, he finds himself caught in an under-tow of confusion and longing. Garland, stricken with AIDS, has hired Sam to write his memoirs and yet manages to withhold crucial information about his life. Sam suspects, however, that the drawing, called Vanitas, is the relic of a dramatic, and secret, history that could provide answers to the questions his subject has refused to address.
Vanitas explores the intersections between the disparate worlds of art and art restoration, publishing, and urban relationships, all of which are in the grip of an implacable epidemic. As Sam traverses the landscapes of disease, romance, and mystery, he is enveloped by a culture in which individuals make tenuous connections with one another as land mines explode all around them. And as he negotiates the hazards of the volatile allegiances and jealousies attendant to his own romantic entanglements, he finds himself face to face with a familiar existential dilemma -- the desire to raise a child despite society's condemnation of nontraditional families.
A brilliantly written story of the lonely, painful search for happiness in unconventional choices, Vanitas is a rare novel -- a daring orchestration of event and character that is a bold, hopeful, and accomplished piece of literature.
Reviews
Review this book!
Available Copies
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
- Published
- 1998
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Troup , Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
A$30.63
Show Details
Description:
United States: Simon and Schuster, 1998. Clean text. Appears unread. Dust cover not price clipped. Light toning to the extremities. Light shelf wear. Presents well under new mylar cover. Nice copy. . Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover w/ jacket. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book. Item Price
A$30.63
Vanitas; a novel
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1998
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Francisco, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$22.97
Show Details
Description:
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Hardcover. 271p., very good first edition in boards and unclipped dj. Item Price
A$22.97
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1998-07-15
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Item Price
-
A$3.31
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 1998-07-15. Hardcover. Good. 1.0000 in x 9.3000 in x 6.1000 in. Item Price
A$3.31
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 9/1/1999
- ISBN
- 9780747544258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Somerville, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
A$35.62
Show Details
Description:
Bloomsbury UK, 9/1/1999. Paperback, VERY GOOD. Item Price
A$35.62
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
A$7.43
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster. Used - Good. Good condition. Like New dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
A$7.43
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1998
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$9.46
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 1998. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$9.46
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1998
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Glencoe, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$22.97
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 1998. ADVANCE UNCORRECTED READER'S PROOF.. Trade Paperback. Very Good. Advanced Reading Copy (ARC). Item Price
A$22.97
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1998
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
carson city, Nevada, USA
- Item Price
-
A$18.38
Show Details
Description:
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998. Book. Fine. Hardcover. First Edition. Book in Mylar cover, No remainder marks, no ink markings. NOT priced clipped. First edition, First Printing. Item Price
A$18.38
Vanitas
by Joseph Olshan
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1999
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780747544258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$26.97
Show Details
Description:
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1999. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
A$26.97
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1998-07-15
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Simi Valley, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$4.58
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 1998-07-15. Hardcover. Very Good. 1.0000 9.3000 6.1000. Minor wear on the covers, corners, and the edges. Like shelf wear. Item Price
A$4.58
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1998-07-15
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Binghamton, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$61.26
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 1998-07-15. Hardcover. Very Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE NEW boxes * Very good in Very good dust jacket. First Edition. 271pp 8vo Item Price
A$61.26
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1998-11-01
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780747536383
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, London, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$11.80
Show Details
Description:
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 1998-11-01. Paperback. Very Good. 2.2081 in x 20.3807 in x 14.3909 in. A clean, tight copy throughout with minimal wear. No markings. Item Price
A$11.80
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780747544258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$6.95
Show Details
Description:
Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
A$6.95
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1999-09-01
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780747544258
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Binghamton, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$49.01
Show Details
Description:
Bloomsbury UK, 1999-09-01. Paperback. Very Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE NEW boxes Spine slant. First edition. Item Price
A$49.01
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 1998-07-15
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$121.25
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 1998-07-15. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! Item Price
A$121.25
Vanitas
by Joseph Olshan
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781476761510
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$33.34
Show Details
Description:
Paperback / softback. New. Item Price
A$33.34
Vanitas
by Joseph Olshan
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781476761510
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$39.83
Show Details
Description:
Paperback / softback. New. Item Price
A$39.83
Vanitas
by Olshan, Joseph
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780684833965
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Newport Coast, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$62.32
Show Details
Description:
hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. Item Price
A$62.32
Vanitas
by Joseph Olshan
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 2013
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781476761510
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Exeter, Devon, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$32.68
Show Details
Description:
Simon & Schuster, 2013. Paperback. New. 272 pages. 9.25x6.10x0.80 inches. Item Price
A$32.68
Vanitas
by Joseph Olshan
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780747536383
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Newport Coast, California, USA
- Item Price
-
A$77.91
Show Details
Description:
paperback. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book. Item Price
A$77.91