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Tree of Smoke

Condition: Poor Condition — £24.44
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  • Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
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‘Once upon a time there was a war, and a young American who thought of himself as the Quiet American and the Ugly American, and who wished to be neither, who wanted instead to be the Wise American, or the Good American, but who eventually came to witness himself as the Real American and finally as simply the Fucking American. That’s me.’

This is the story of Skip Sands, a CIA spy engaged in psychological operations against the Viet Cong, and the disasters that befall him. It is also the story of two brothers heading towards self-destruction, and a story about double agents, missionaries, killers for hire and lost souls desperate for sex, death or God – and thus an end to their loneliness.

His first full-length novel in nine years, and one that desribes a war where disinformation has become self-delusion,Tree of Smoke is Johnson's most gripping, visionary and ambitious work to date.

'The God I want to believe in has a voice and a sense of humour like Denis Johnson's' Jonathan Franzen

'Prose of amazing power and stylishness' Philip Roth

'There isn't an American voice I love more than Denis Johnson's' Michael Herr

‘A true legislator of the tortured American soul in ceaseless prose of redeeming brilliance’ Alan Warner

Genre: Intelligence officers, United States
Format: Hardback
Published: 2007
Pages: 614
Publisher: Picador
ISBN: 9780330449205

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Our conditions mean the following:

  • New - a brand new book
  • Almost New - appears new but is actually secondhand.
  • Very Good - only minor imperfections such as minor scuffs to edge or cover or a price written in pencil or shop sticker.
  • Standard Secondhand - Clearly been read before, but not too bad. We do not recommend these for gifting. Spines usually creased. Could also include creases or folds to cover, some writing such as in the cover or elsewhere, underlining or highlighting, but might not do. Possibly some stains or marks. Similar in general to books in any secondhand shop or charity shop.
  • Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
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