Daniel Pecan Cambridge, 30, 35, 38 or 27, depending on how he feels that day, is a young man whose life is rich and full, provided he never leaves his Santa Monica apartment. After all, outside there are 8 inch high curbs and there's always the horrible chance he might see a gas station attendant wearing a blue hat. So, except for the occasional trip to the Rite Aid to admire the California girl Zandy and to buy ear plugs because they're on sale, he stays home a lot. And a good thing too, or he would have never been falsely implicated in a murder, never almost seduced Philipa, never done the impossible task of jogging around the block with Brian, never ironed his pillows, and might never have won the Most Average American contest.

In THE PLEASURE OF MY COMPANY, Steve Martin's second novella, all of the enjoyments of the critically acclaimed bestseller Shopgirl are present: the tender portrayal of loneliness and love; a character's quest to reach out and engage the world; as well as laugh out loud humor and language that is brilliantly inventive. But in the story of Daniel Pecan Cambridge and the people who inhabit the insular universe he is seeking to expand—if only one small square at a time —Steve Martin has achieved something extraordinary: the chronicle of a modern-day neurotic yearning to break free.

“What a joy this novella is… Martin’s second short fiction (after Shopgirl, 2000) is an impressively economical and yet by no means limited piece of light comedy. As compassionate as it is funny, and never overstays its welcome.”

 

Steve Martin is a celebrated writer, actor and performer. His film credits include Father of the Bride, Parenthood, The Spanish Prisoner and Bringing Down the House , as well as Roxanne, L.A. Story , and Bowfinger , for which he also wrote the screenplays. He's won Emmys for his television writing and two Grammys for comedy albums. In addition to a play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile , he has written a bestselling collection of comic pieces, Pure Drivel , and a bestselling novella, Shopgirl . His work appears frequently in The New Yorker and The New York Times . He lives in New York City and Los Angeles.

 

 

The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin
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