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Artist David Wroblewski

The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club a little over a year ago, but even before the Big O stamped it, it was spending time on theNew York Times bestseller list—impressive accomplishments for Wisconsin-born first-time author David Wroblewski. Edgar Sawtelle takes place close to home in rural Wisconsin, and it’s a loose retelling of Hamlet. As if reshaping one of Shakespeare’s most famous works wasn’t enough of a challenge for Wroblewski, there’s also a high-wire technical complexity found in the fact that the titular hero is mute, and communicates with people, animals, and the occasional ghost through a unique mix of sign and body language.

Updated 10/07/2009

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