A Paler Shade of Red

Book excerpt: An epic work of remarkable scope, vigor and passion, W. E. Gutman's latest book is acerbic, iconoclastic and disquieting. In this memoir, he chronicles his life with eloquent, engaging prose that will resonate with readers long after they turn the last page. The palpable sense of wonder and discovery peppered with dark humor and great humanity, is reminiscent of Nabokov's Speak Memory and Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. This honest, often self-critical account of the author's ups and downs as a wanderer and journalist makes A Paler Shade of Red great literature. About the Author Born in Paris, W. E. Gutman is a veteran journalist and author. A former writer at OMNI magazine and U.S. editor of Science in the USSR, he covered politics and human rights in Central America from 1994 to 2006. He lives with his wife in southern California.