Andrew Sean Greer with Alexandra Schwartz: Villa Coco and Special performance by Jason Robert Brown

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less joins The New Yorker’s Alexandra Schwartz for the launch of his eagerly awaited new novel, Villa Coco — a “most-anticipated book of the year” from TIME, Esquire, People, and more. The evening will open with a special performance by Jason Robert Brown, offering a preview of Less: The Musical.

From Confessions of Max Tivoli to Less and Less is Lost, Andrew Sean Greer has become an international phenomenon for the signature wit, charm, and humanity of his storytelling. “No one writing in English is funnier or more charming than Andrew Greer,” writes David Sedaris. “Every sentence in [Villa Coco] sings.” A sun-soaked mystery and a bawdy Mediterranean ballad about becoming who we’ve always wanted to be, Villa Coco follows a young man who takes a job working for a charismatic elderly Baronessa at her crumbling villa in the Tuscan hills. Populated by a chaotic and colorful milieu of gin-swilling princesses, incomprehensible handymen, roaming boarhunters and irascible nuns, Villa Coco is “an absolute delight” (Elif Batuman).

In a conversation with Alexandra Schwartz celebrating Villa Coco’s launch, hear Greer discuss the inspiration for the book, the arc of his lyrical and soul-searching oeuvre, the art of the comic novel, and more.

“This book is absolute magic. It is so rare to find a novel today that is both so sophisticated and warm-hearted, so erudite and yet absolutely unpretentious, so terrifically page-by-page funny and yet so full of hidden sadnesses. Also, it features one of the greatest characters in modern fiction, the unflappable and unforgettable Baronessa. Get ready for the literary treat of the year!” — Gary Shteyngart

Andrew Sean Greer with Alexandra Schwartz: Villa Coco

All in person tickets include a copy of the book.