We can’t click on a book website these days without seeing Karl Marlantes and his debut novel, Matterhorn. Which must be incredibly satisfying to Marlantes, who took thirty-five years to write it. Matterhorn is the story of young Marines in Vietnam—trying to survive while also trying to understand why they’re there and who they are. Barnes and Noble selected the book for its great new writers program. Reviewers are gushing. Read more on the Powell’s blog or in this dedicated issue of Shelf Awareness. Listen to Marlantes talk with Grove editor Morgan Entrikin on this YouTube video.
Marlantes grew up in Seaside, Oregon, was a National Merit Scholar, attended Yale and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. In 1967, he left his scholarshop and volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam. He came home a highly decorated Marine. Now 65, he lives in Woodinville, Washington, on a small lake with his wife. They have five children.