Pb, in-8, 274 pp.

"About Schmidt" by Louis Begley is a captivating novel that explores the life of Albert Schmidt, a retired lawyer, who is trying to navigate his way through the complexities of life after retirement. The book delves into Schmidt's personal life, his relationships, his struggles, and his introspections. Schmidt, a wealthy, retired partner of a prestigious New York law firm, is a traditionalist who finds himself in a world that he no longer recognizes. His wife, with whom he had a comfortable but not passionate relationship, is suddenly dead; his daughter is planning to marry a man whom Schmidt considers unworthy; and his condo in the Hamptons is occupied by a single mother on welfare. The novel is a profound exploration of a man's quest for purpose and identity in the twilight of his life.