Harry March is something of a wreck and more than half nuts. Up until now, he has lived peacefully on an island in the Hamptons with his talking dog, Hector, a born-again Evangelical and unapologetic capitalist. But March’s life starts to completely unravel when Lapham—an ostentatious multimillionaire who made his fortune on asparagus tongs—begins construction of a gargantuan mansion just across the way. To Harry, Lapham’s monstrosity-to-be represents the fetid and corrupt excess that has ruined modern civilization. Which means, quite simply, that this is war. “Roger Rosenblatt is that magical writer who reduces you to helpless laughter, but restores you with prose so deliciously descriptive you want to head to the Hamptons. If he wrote about Hell he’d make it so attractive you’d want to head there, too.” - Frank McCourt “This is Mr. Rosenblatt’s first novel. I hope it’s not his last.” - New York Sun “[An] uproarious debut…. Rosenblatt wields his satiric saber with skill and compassion. A-.” - Entertainment Weekly “[An] uproarious debut…. Rosenblatt wields his satiric saber with skill and compassion.” - Entertainment Weekly Roger Rosenblatt is one of the (intentionally) funniest citizens of our time and Lapham Rising is a painfully funny comedy of manners set in upscale Long Island that evokes Jonathan Swift.” - Joyce Carol Oates “The whole book is a witty rant…. such a rich collection of satiric scenes and cracks.” - Washington Post Book World “Lapham Rising brims with word play.” - Weekly Standard Harry March is something of a wreck and more than half nuts. Up until now, he has lived peacefully on an island in the Hamptons with his talking dog, Hector, a born-again Evangelical and unapologetic capitalist. But March’s life starts to completely unravel when Lapham—an ostentatious multimillionaire who made his fortune on asparagus tongs—begins construction of a gargantuan mansion just across the way. To Harry, Lapham’s monstrosity-to-be represents the fetid and corrupt excess that has ruined modern civilization. Which means, quite simply, that this is war. Roger Rosenblatt  is the author of six off-Broadway plays and eighteen books, including Lapham Rising, Making Toast, Kayak Morning and The Boy Detective. He is the recipient of the 2015 Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement.