That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel
It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.
E. Annie Proulx
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7
Catalog books
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11
Works
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1993 to 2005
Strongest span
Who This Author Is
E. Annie Proulx writes spare, richly observed fiction that homes in on people shaped by unforgiving landscapes and stubborn histories. That Old Ace in the Hole follows the aftershocks of a veteran’s choices in a small Wyoming town, showcasing Proulx’s attention to place, weathered characters, and moral complication.
Proulx’s prose balances lyric description with unsparing realism: landscapes function almost as characters, and quiet tensions build into events that force reckonings. Readers of That Old Ace in the Hole will find the same patience for detail and moral clarity that defines her work, where ordinary lives produce unexpected consequences.
Best Place To Start
Author At A Glance
Best known for: That Old Ace in the Hole • Lyrical, spare prose • Rural, character-driven fiction
Genres and themes: Literary fiction • Rural America • Intergenerational conflict • Quiet violence
Who this author is best for: For readers who prefer atmospheric, tightly rendered stories about people shaped by hard landscapes and fraught relationships.
Start with That Old Ace in the Hole to sample Proulx's pared-down style and focus on rural lives.
Top Books To Start With
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That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel
Scribner • 2003 • longer commitment
UPB note: year signal: 2003 • 361 pages.
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Simon & Schuster • 2005 • standard commitment
UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2005 • 240 pages.
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Simon & Schuster • 2001 • standard commitment
UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2001 • 337 pages.
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Brokeback Mountain: Now a Major Motion Picture
Simon & Schuster • 2005 • quick commitment
It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.
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Scribner • 1995 • standard commitment
UPB note: year signal: 1995 • 203 pages.
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Collier Books • 1993 • standard commitment
UPB note: year signal: 1993 • 308 pages.
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Fourth Estate • 1998 • quick commitment
UPB note: year signal: 1998 • 58 pages.
How The Picks Compare
- Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2 is the easier short commitment, while That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel asks for more reading time up front.
- That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2 leans later in the catalog.
- The Shipping News : A Novel is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from That Old Ace in the Hole : A Novel.