The Troupe - by Robert Jackson Bennett (Paperback)

About the Book

Sixeen year-old George Carole, uncommonly gifted at the piano, falls in with a strange troupe -- and under the watchful eye of the enigmatic figure of Silenus, George comes to realize that the members of the troupe are more than they appear to be.

Book Synopsis

Vaudeville: mad, mercenary, dreamy, and absurd, a world of clashing cultures and ferocious showmanship and wickedly delightful deceptions.

But sixteen-year-old pianist George Carole has joined vaudeville for one reason only: to find the man he suspects to be his father, the great Heironomo Silenus. Yet as he chases down his father's troupe, he begins to understand that their performances are strange even for vaudeville: for wherever they happen to tour, the very nature of the world seems to change.

Because there is a secret within Silenus's show so ancient and dangerous that it has won him many powerful enemies. And it's not until after he joins them that George realizes the troupe is not simply touring: they are running for their lives.

And soon...he is as well.

Review Quotes

"...a melancholy coming-of-age tale with a moody atmosphere... The Troupe is a genuinely powerful piece of work."--SFX

"The Troupe is true magic: a gripping tale that reminds the audience why we fell in love with reading. This book enchants, leaving the audience on their feet, yelling for an encore."--Mat Johnson, author of Pym

"Bennett's finely crafted novel rises on a wave of suspense to a place of beauty and hope."
--Publishers Weekly

"This is the kind of book that will find its ways into one's hands again and again over the years."--Booklist

"Thought-provoking, beautifully written, and highly recommended"--Sci Fi Bulletin

About the Author

Robert Jackson Bennett was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the Sydney J. Bounds Award, and an Edgar Award, he is the author of the novels Mr. Shivers, The Company Man, The Troupe, and American Elsewhere. Find out more about the author at www.robertjacksonbennett.com.