
Product Description What defines fatherhood -- blood, legal obligation, or love? This exquisite novel about the complicated ties and ambiguities that irrevocably bind us to one another introduces an extrarodinary new talent in contemporary fiction.Business executive Peter Morrison and his ex-wife, Joan, an artist, were never right for each other. When their marriage fails after eight years, Pete settles into the routine of court-sanctioned visits with his young son, Sam, a boy who has few physical similarities or common interest with Pete. When he discovers that Sam is not his biological son, Pete confronts Joan with the test results. She strikes back, cutting off visitations rights to keep Sam from finding out the truth. Suddenly Pete finds himself without a son -- and without a father's legal right to get the boy back. Desperate for a solution and spurred on by an ambitious lawyer, Pete brings a lawsuit that breaks new legal ground in defining what a father is. Overnight, the private war over Sam's custody becomes frontpage news -- and the very public trial forces Pete and Joan to face the truth about their marriage, and the lies that bind them both to Sam. About the Author Edward DeAngelo is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Currently works in the Massachusetts attorney general's office. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and two sons.
When Peter Morrison discovers his son is not biologically related to him, he initiates a high-stakes legal battle that threatens to dismantle his family's private life. Peter Morrison, a business executive, struggles to reconcile his role as a father after learning the truth about his son, Sam. Following his ex-wife Joan's decision to terminate his visitation rights, Peter engages an ambitious lawyer to challenge the legal definition of fatherhood. The narrative follows the escalation of this conflict from a private domestic dispute into a public courtroom drama. The story examines the tension between biological reality and the emotional bonds formed through care and time.
Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to translate complex legal concepts into accessible narrative stakes. Discussion often centers on the moral ambiguity of both Peter and Joan, as neither character is presented as entirely blameless in the custody dispute. Critics note that the pacing effectively mirrors the slow, grinding nature of the judicial system while maintaining focus on the emotional toll of the trial. The book is often cited for its realistic portrayal of how private family matters can be distorted when thrust into the public eye. Many readers find the central question regarding the nature of fatherhood to be a thought-provoking element that lingers after the final chapter.
Page Count:
336
Publication Date:
2002-01-08
Publisher:
Harper Perennial
ISBN-10:
006000777X
ISBN-13:
9780060007775
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