In Let Me Be Frank With You, Bascombe returns to narrate four deftly linked stories, having thrived—seemingly if not utterly—in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. As in all of the Bascombe books, Ford's guiding spirit is the old comic's maxim that promises if nothing's funny, nothing's truly serious; the desolation of Sandy could scarcely be more serious as the grist for fiction, yet it is the perfect backdrop. With a flawless comedic sensibility and unblinking intelligence, these stories range over the full complement of American subjects: aging, race, loss, faith, marriage, redemption—the tumult of the world we live in.

With his trademark candor and brimming wit, Richard Ford brings Bascombe fully back, in all his imperfect glory, showcasing the maturity and brilliance of a great writer working at the top of his talents.