The Book of Illusions

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A NATIONAL BESTSELLERA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW NOTABLE BOOKSix months after losing his wife and two young sons, Vermont Professor David Zimmer spends his waking hours mired in a blur of alcoholic grief and self-pity. One night, he stumbles upon a clip from a lost film by silent comedian Hector Mann. His interest is piqued, and he soon finds himself embarking on a journey around the world to research a book on this mysterious figure, who vanished from sight in 1929. When the book is published the following year, a letter turns up in Zimmer's mailbox bearing a return address from a small town in New Mexico inviting him to meet Hector. Zimmer hesitates, until one night a strange woman appears on his doorstep and makes the decision for him, changing his life forever.

The cheapest new copy of The Book of Illusions is €19.50 at Casa del Libro. Prices checked 1 Nov 2026

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More by Paul Auster