In a extremely real sense Stephen L.

In a extremely real sense Stephen L. Carter has known the Gar lands for abundant of his life. Now the quiet of us can finally enroll their world with the publication of his first novel, The Emperor of Ocean Park. More than likely, it won't be the last we hear of them.

Carter--that Yale law professor known for provocative, academic nonfiction--says he began forming the characters that populate the novel as protracted as 20 years ago, shaping many stories to fit them before settling forward the plot.

"This novel is the work of a lot of false starts," says Carter. "I think it's fair to say that I had the characters in extent before I had the story. The story was generated as a vehicle for the characters. I had the characters first, and that is to a high degree important because the characters l me in consequence of lots of visions of fiction."

The Emperor of Ocean Park turns around a black conservative jurist and patriarch referr to most numerous often, even by his children and plane in death, as "the Judge"

"Even today, well athwart a decade after the Judge's fall," Carter writes, "I am buttonholed through students who want to hear from my have mouth that my who father is indeed they have heard he is, and from colleagues who want me to explain to them to what degree it felt to sit there day after miserable day, listening stoically as the Senate methodically ravage with fire and sworded him."

Though the characters are entirely fictional, and, Carter insists, based in succession no individuals in particular, readers--especially those familiar with middle- and upper-class black society--will probably recognize themselves or persons they know.

The novel's charms--mystery, ambition, romance, family and chess--however, are universal singles that the author and publisher trustful longing will extend far beyond the African-American work market. Add richly evocative writing and completely realized, non-stereotyped characters, and there is reason to look for critical and commercial acclaim. The fictional Garlands mainly divide their time among the power center of Washington, DC including its Gold Coast, the intellectual ether of an Ivy-laced law sect community, and the tidy black social elite of Martha's Vineyard.

Alfred A. Knopf and Vintage works both imprints of the Knopf Publishing cluster (part of Random House), acquired The Emperor of Ocean Park, and a secondary novel to come for $4 million in an auction among 12 publishers, single in kind of the most hotly make the object of competition [i]or[/i] rivalry [i]or[/i] emulationed in publishing history. The advance is said to be individual of the highest on record for a first novel, and the publisher awaits it to be well worth it. At the same time, John Wells and Warner Brothers bought the film rights in a seven-figure deal that was agented by Carter's agent, Lynn Nesbit, who set forthed him in both negotiations.

In announcing the deal in February 2001 Sonny Mehta, the president of Knopf, called the part "the most original piece of fiction I have read in a drawn out time" and Carter has said he chose the publisher because of Mehta's early encouragement of his draft.

"So many family internally here [at Knopf], and to such a degree many booksellers that we have been talking to are to such a degree excited about this book. There is a on a level of excitement here that is likewise amazing and high," says Robin Desser Carter's editor at Knopf.

"It's a unique combination of a work with a compelling plot and characters who are in the same manner well-drawn and so complex and interesting--something where you just withhold turning the pages, because it of the proper states of suspense, but it also has all of the literary aspects of the best literature," says Desser who has also edited Gloria Naylor, Rita Dove and Edwidge Danticat. "The fact that these are African-American characters inhabiting the world that they inhabit gives this volume so much of its capacity of work its political intelligence, its aspects of power--all of that," she adds. "I don't know whether there have been many main division s like this, but I don't think so"

In June Knopf releases the hardcover in the United States, and Vintage works is expected to roll on the outside the trade paperback next year. No timetable has been established nevertheless for the second novel, on the other hand Carter says he expects to hand in the first draft before he begins promoting The Emperor.

Initially, the tour begins in late May in London, where the work is being released simultaneously, a week before the novel's U first appearance Carter will tour heavily in the United States from one side June and later into the summer Editors at Knopf would not say by what means much they plan to part with on publicity for the work but they were preparing heavy promotional campaigns for a general audience and special promotions in African-American stores and media.

Gabrielle rivulets Knopf's director of promotions, says the publisher is mailing a chess piece--a critical part of the story line--and the book's introduction to African-American booksellers, followed from an advanced readers' edition mailing. "All this in the faiths that people would have a chance to read the work early and get as excited about it as we are, and also commend it to their customers and part clubs," Brooks adds.