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Read Thomas Baughman’s appreciation of Raymond DeCapite at the blog As It Ought to Be.

On April 17, Mike DeCapite read from Raymond DeCapite’s A Lost King, newly republished by Kent State University Press (and available through this site and through Amazon). The reading took place at the Literary Cafe, in Cleveland. Andy Timithy, who helps run the Literary and has tirelessly documented the goings-on there for the last twenty or so years, has posted the reading online. To view it, go here.

Mike finished the evening with a few pages from “Sitting Pretty,” a story he wrote about Ray. That video is available on the same page, along with Dennis Dooley’s introductory remarks.

To celebrate the recent reissues of Raymond DeCapite’s The Coming of Fabrizze and A Lost King by Kent State University Press, Mike DeCapite will do two readings from the books in Cleveland this weekend.

The first reading will be held at Mac’s Backs (1820 Coventry, Cleveland Heights) at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 16th. The reading will follow opening remarks by historian Marian Morton.

The second reading will be at the Literary (1031 Literary, between West 10th and West 11th, Cleveland) at 8:30 on Saturday, April 17th. The reading will follow opening remarks by author, journalist, and alderman Dennis Dooley.

Raymond DeCapite’s first two novels, out of print for nearly fifty years, are available again in new editions from Black Squirrel Books. Go to here to order the books and read a selection of their initial reviews. The books are available immediately from Kent State University Press, or for pre-order from Amazon.com.

“Reading [The Coming of Fabrizze] is like discovering some new and strangely flavored wine . . .”
The New York Times

“I am deeply grateful for the little classic, The Coming of Fabrizze . . .”
Gene Fowler

“Raymond DeCapite is a writer of exquisite talents: phrasemaker, dreamer, poet, teller of fairy tales. . . . He is a sweet writer.”
John Fante

“Thank you for Fabrizze, who filled this house last night with his soul and voice . . .”
Mark Van Doren

“. . .DeCapite has incautiously, recklessly managed with vitality and joy to make . . . an oddly moving song.”
The Saturday Review of Literature

“A Lost King . . . is a small masterpiece . . . Unique in spirit and style . . .”
Thomas DePietro, Kirkus

There’s an article about Black Squirrel Books’ forthcoming reprints of Raymond DeCapite’s first two novels, The Coming of Fabrizze and A Lost King, in the March issue of Cleveland magazine. The article, by Laura Putre, can be seen online here.

Ms. Putre’s Scene magazine article about Ray DeCapite from 2000 can be read here.