A Fine and Private Place
A fantasy of ghosts, a raven, and a man living in a cemetery.
A Fine and Private Place is a fantasy novel by American writer Peter S. Beagle, first published in hardcover by Viking Press on May 23, 1960. It was Beagle's first major fantasy and has appeared in numerous editions and translations.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Peter S. Beagle
- Cover artist
- George Salter
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Fantasy novel
- Published
- 1960 (Viking Press)
- Format
- Print (Hardcover)
- Pages
- 272
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The novel is set in the fictional Yorkchester Cemetery, where Jonathan Rebeck, a homeless and bankrupt pharmacist, has lived illegally for nearly two decades. A raven supplies him with food stolen from nearby businesses. Rebeck can converse with the raven and with the shades of the dead, who are bound to their burial sites and slowly fade as their bodies decay. He befriends two newly arrived ghosts: Michael Morgan, a teacher who died either from poisoning by his wife or suicide, and Laura Durand, a bookshop clerk killed by a truck. The ghosts fall in love, pledging themselves to each other for as long as they can remember love. Mrs. Klapper, visiting her husband's mausoleum, discovers Rebeck. The group's quiet existence is interrupted by the poisoning trial of Morgan's wife, reported by the raven. After she is found innocent and Morgan's death ruled suicide, Morgan faces separation from Laura when his body is moved to unhallowed ground. Encouraged by Mrs. Klapper, Rebeck seeks to reunite them and eventually leaves the cemetery.
Reception
Orville Prescott in The New York Times called the novel a first novel of considerable charm and much promise, praising its originality, combination of wistful melancholy and tart humor, and smooth, precise, graceful prose. He felt it did not go far enough, seemed too slight for its length, and had too many repetitions. Edmund Fuller characterized it as a striking debut with wit, charm, and individuality, but disliked occasional vulgarism and sentimentality, and viewed its philosophical concept of death as shallow. Tom Morrow referred to it as a droll fantasy and a work-a-day little book before illustrating its unusual qualities. George W. Feinstein stated that based on a mildly amusing situation and dialogue, the fantasy suffers from distention. In genre magazines, Floyd C. Gale rated it five stars out of five, calling it tender, funny, and wise. Richard A. Lupoff described it as a marvelous fantasy, funny, gentle, tender, and profound. Charles de Lint called it a great book and one of his favorites, beautifully written with warmly drawn characters, though it might seem quaint in its pacing. Other reviewers include Gahan Wilson, Spider Robinson, and Darrell Schweitzer.
In other media
A musical adaptation of the novel, titled A Fine and Private Place: A Musical Fantasy, was released on Clearsong Records in 2004, with a book and lyrics by Erik Haagensen and music by Richard Isen. The author later requested that this version be withdrawn from all circulation and performance. In June 2012, IDW Publishing announced a comic book adaptation scripted by Peter B. Gillis, Beagle’s chosen adapter. The first issue of a planned five-issue series was published in July 2014, but by February 2015, the second issue had not yet appeared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who illustrated A Fine and Private Place?
A Fine and Private Place was illustrated by George Salter.
How many pages is A Fine and Private Place?
A Fine and Private Place has 272 pages.
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