Jerry Engels

After introducing us to Jerry Engels in "At the Shores," Rogers now gives a wry and touching portrait of Jerry as a young man searching for love and purpose in a changing world. Set in Pennsylvania in the early 1950s, the novel explores universal themes of young manhood, transcending time and place. A masterful craftsman, Rogers creates characters and emotions we can all inhabit. With the reissue of "Jerry Engels" and "At the Shores," Rogers is finally getting the critical acclaim he so richly deserves (e.g., Cathleen Shine in the New York Review of Books). Rogers' two other novels, "The Pursuit of Happiness" and "The Confessions of a Child of the Century" likewise demonstrate his sure hand in deftly balancing humor and poignance. Philip Roth is right to compare him to Evelyn Waugh. Let's hope the new critical interest in his work will introduce the delights of his writing to a wider audience.