The American No

Rupert Everett’s debut collection of short stories, praised for its wit, tenderness, and vivid character work.

In this first, glorious collection of eight stories, Rupert Everett takes readers on an exhilarating emotional journey filled with love and loss, drama and glamour, hope and rejection.

From a blackly humorous funeral in Paris to Oscar Wilde’s last night in the city — evocative, unflinching, and elegiac — the book explores a cast of extraordinary characters and unforgettable moments.

Other stories include a Russian-American countess confronting age and desire in a teashop, the ruthless world of a Los Angeles talent agency, a deathbed confession in 1850s India, and a beautifully evocative portrayal of Proust’s creative life and childhood.

“A supremely gifted writer” — The Times

“Full of kindness, even tenderness…opulently gossipy…witty, wise and stoical” — Observer

“Everett is a brilliant writer — funny, waspish, warm and seductive” — The Times