The Gentleman From Peru

A dazzling, sunbaked Italian summer story from the global bestselling author of Call Me By Your Name.

We spend more time than we know trying to go back. We call it fantasising, we call it dreaming. . . but we're all crawling back, each in his or her own way.

A group of college friends find themselves marooned at a luxurious hotel on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. While their boat is being repaired, they can't help but observe the daily routine of a fellow hotel guest - a mysterious, white-bearded stranger who sits on the veranda each night and smokes one cigarette, sometimes two. When the group decides to invite the elegant traveller to lunch with them, they cannot begin to imagine the miraculous abilities, strange wisdom, and a life-changing story he is about to impart to one of the friends in particular. . .

Deeply atmospheric and sensual, The Gentleman From Peru weaves achingly poignant insight into a story of regret, fate and epic love.

Review

Showcases [Aciman's] exquisite prose and deep insight into human relationships. Known for his ability to evoke emotions with lyrical language, Aciman delivers another masterful tale of longing and desire . . . With themes of passion, nostalgia, and the complexities of love, you will want to rush to Italy after reading this. ― Glamour

A cosy yet magical read . . . a beautiful tale of love lost and found, exploring mystical past lives and whether they ever truly leave us. [...] This will, without question, be a book I revisit over and over again. ― nb. Magazine

About the Author

André Aciman is the New York Times bestselling author of Call Me By Your Name, Out of Egypt, Eight White Nights, False Papers, Alibis, and Harvard Square, Enigma Variations, Find Me, and the essay collection Homo Irrealis. He's the editor of The Proust Project and teaches comparative literature at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He lives with his wife in Manhattan.