Pg. 69: Philip Baruth's "The Brothers Boswell"

The current feature at the Page 69 Test: The Brothers Boswell by Philip Baruth.

About the book, from the publisher:

The year is 1763.Twenty-two-year-old James Boswell of Edinburgh is eager to advance himself in London society. Today his sights are set on furthering his acquaintance with Dr. Samuel Johnson, famed for his Dictionary; they are going to take a boat across the Thames to Greenwich Palace. Watching them secretly is John Boswell, James's younger brother. He has stalked his older brother for days. Consumed with envy, John is planning to take revenge on his brother and Johnson for presumed slights. He carries a pair of miniature pistols that fire a single golden bullet each and there is murder in his heart.

Read an excerpt of The Brothers Boswell, and learn more about the novel at the publisher's website.

Philip Baruth is an award-winning commentator for Vermont Public Radio and a graduate of Brown University with an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Irvine. His previous novel, The X President (Bantam, 2003) received wide critical acclaim. He teaches at the University of Vermont.

The Page 69 Test: The Brothers Boswell.

--Marshal Zeringue