ABOUT THE BOOK

Mr. Bones, the canine hero of Paul Auster's astonishing new book, is the sidekick and confidant of Willy G. Christmas, the brilliant, troubled, and altogether original poet-saint from Brooklyn. Like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza before them, they sally forth on a last great adventure, heading for Baltimore, Maryland, in search of Bea Swanson, Willy's high school English teacher.

Years have passed since Willy last saw his beloved mentor, who knew him in his previous incarnation as William Gurevitch, the son of Polish war refugees. Is Mrs. Swanson still alive? And if she isn't, what will prevent Willy from vanishing into that other world known as Timbuktu? Mr. Bones is our witness. Although he walks on four legs and cannot speak, he can think, and out of his thoughts Paul Auster has spun one of the richest, most compelling tales in recent American fiction. A book of unexpected moments of grace, Timbuktu is above all a love story. It takes us into the heart of a singularly pure and passionate character, an unforgettable dog who has much to teach us about our own humanity.

Paul Auster's novels, including The New York Trilogy and Mr. Vertigo, are canonical reading for fans of American literature all over the world. His most recent work includes a memoir, hand to Mouth, and a new film, Lulu on the Bridge.