NEW YORK, NY--Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced today the acquisition of Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon's GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD (Del Rey hardcover; $18.95; on-sale November 6, 2007).

GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD is the story of a pair of wandering adventurers--swords for hire, horsethieves, flimflam artists, unlikely soul mates--who get caught up in the schemes and battles that follow a bloody coup in the great medieval Jewish empire of the Khazars. Hired as escorts for a fugitive prince, they soon find themselves the half-willing generals of a mad rebellion as they attempt to restore the prince's family to the throne.

"I'm tremendously excited to bring to Del Rey a writer whose previous work has brought so much enjoyment to fans of our genre," said Del Rey Editor-in-Chief Betsy Mitchell. "This new story features all the exotic locales, adventure and intrigue a reader could want, told in a spellbinding voice."

The story is currently being serialized in The New York Times Magazine. The Del Rey hardcover edition will contain new material by Chabon and will be illustrated throughout with black and white drawings by award-winning artist Gary Gianni.