which point the reader is left to draw her or his own conclusions. Literary significance and criticism Widely applauded not just for his imaginative story but his ingenious wordplay, Ben Marcus's first novel received acclaim despite little mainstream attention. Since producing Notable American Women, Marcus has authored The Father Costume, a collaborative work with painter/illustrator Matthew Ritchie, and edited The Anchor Book of New American Short Stories. Autobiographical content When asked about his sharing a name with the main character and if the book was supposed to be autobiographical, Marcus responded "My family was very loving and I've never been to Ohio." References 2002 American novels Novels set in Ohio