Since the debut of her revered short story collection, Bad Behavior—which included the story adapted into the 2002 film Secretary—Mary Gaitskill has lent brutal honesty and formal daring to the literary scene. “She catches cruelty and inexplicable desire, what she has called ‘the dirt within,’ as well as any writer we have,” as Dwight Garner of the New York Times has put it. Gaitskill’s new book, The Devil’s Treasure, is no less audacious than her previous work. Linked together by the story of a girl named Ginger who discovers a portal to hell in her own backyard, Gaitskill’s latest, richly illustrated work presents excerpts of her previous novels, including 2005’s Veronica and 2015’s The Mare, as well as a memoir—all of it stitched together with authorial commentary.

Seats at Austin Central Library are limited and registration is required through the in-person link above. Virtual streaming options also available through the stream RSVP link.

• Moderator: Rose Smith
• Format: This is a live, in-person event at Austin Public Library Main Branch. Doors for this session open at 3:30 p.m. Seats are limited and registration is required through the in-person link above. You can also watch it from home by clicking the Stream RSVP button instead.
• Code of Conduct: Please refer to the code of conduct prior to attending in-person events.
• Book(s): Click the book cover(s) below to purchase through BookPeople, Texas Book Festival’s partner bookseller. Your purchase helps support the author(s), independent bookselling, and the Texas Book Festival. Thank you.

Mary Gaitskill, The Devil’s Treasure