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THE IMPERFECTIONISTS
By: Tom Rachman
Dial Press
April 2010
On Sale: April 6, 2010
288 pages
ISBN: 0385343663
EAN: 9780385343664
Hardcover
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Fiction
Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmanβs wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itβand themselvesβafloat. Fifty years and many changes have ensued since the paper was founded by an enigmatic millionaire, and now, amid the stained carpeting and dingy office furniture, the staffβs personal dramas seem far more important than the daily headlines. Kathleen, the imperious editor in chief, is smarting from a betrayal in her open marriage; Arthur, the lazy obituary writer, is transformed by a personal tragedy; Abby, the embattled financial officer, discovers that her job cuts and her love life are intertwined in a most unexpected way. Out in the field, a veteran Paris freelancer goes to desperate lengths for his next byline, while the new Cairo stringer is mercilessly manipulated by an outrageous war correspondent with an outsize ego. And in the shadows is the isolated young publisher who pays more attention to his prized basset hound, Schopenhauer, than to the fate of his familyβs quirky newspaper. As the era of print news gives way to the Internet age and this imperfect crew stumbles toward an uncertain future, the paperβs rich history is revealed, including the surprising truth about its founderβs intentions. Spirited, moving, and highly original, The Imperfectionists will establish Tom Rachman as one of our most perceptive, assured literary talents.
 Media BuzzDiane Rehm Show - NPR - January 19, 2011
Weekend Edition Saturday - January 1, 2011
On Point - December 30, 2010
On Point - December 6, 2010
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