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The Stepford Wives Unabridged Edition
Author(s): Ira Levin (Author), Peter Straub (Afterword)
- Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
- Publication Date: 7 May 2024
- Edition: Unabridged
- Language: English
- Print length: 180 pages
- ISBN-10: B0CJ9Y83XX
- ISBN-13: 9798212642576
Book Description
Ira Levin’s dark suburban tale remains as compelling–and frighteningly relevant–as ever. Psychological suspense mixes with elements of science fiction to create an extraordinary thriller tinged with Levin’s sly, satirical wit.
Few novels have enshrined themselves in the collective consciousness to the degree The Stepford Wives has. Levin’s sardonic critique has been spun off into countless film and television adaptations, from 1975’s original Katharine Ross filming to 2004’s Nicole Kidman offering–and its influence can be felt in later works from The Handmaid’s Tale to Get Out. Its title alone has become part of our common lexicon.
Joanna Eberhart is a creative, self-possessed wife and mother, newly arrived in seemingly idyllic Stepford, Connecticut. But as she and her family begin settling in, she’s jarred by the unaccountable sameness of the local wives: all flawlessly attractive, with perfectly maintained homes–and little seeming interest in anything else. As curiosity turns to concern, Joanna finds herself unraveling a web of malice that threatens her very existence.
Prepare to be captivated, unnerved, and utterly engrossed by Ira Levin’s dark and unforgettable modern classic, The Stepford Wives.
This edition includes an afterword by Peter Straub.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“The Stepford Wives Unabridged Edition has one of the most enduring premises of twentieth-century American fiction.”
— “Daily Beast”
“[Ira Levin] is the Swiss watchmaker of the suspense novel.”
— “Stephen King”
“Stepford Wives depicted the backlash against feminism twenty years before Susan Faludi wrote Backlash.”
— “Chuck Palahniuk, New York Times bestselling author of Fight Club”
“The Stepford Wives…helped popularize the subgenre of feminist horror.”
— “Bustle”
“A wicked, deadpan humor lies at the heart of this tableau…As a novel that can be devoured nearly in one gulp, its very efficiency deflects attention from the controlled composure of its prose and the jewel-like perfection of its structure.”
— “Peter Straub, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Story”
“Chilling…Entertaining…Read it.”
— “Austin American-Statesman”
“Levin…helped establish, and legitimize, the horror thriller.”
— “Los Angeles Times”
“Masterful, ridiculously well crafted…flawless.”
— “Esquire”
About the Author
The genre-defining works of novelist-playwright Ira Levin (1929-2007) include such indelible titles as Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives Unabridged Edition, The Boys from Brazil, and Deathtrap–the fifth longest-running play in Broadway history. At home in nearly every genre–horror (Rosemary’s Baby), crime (Edgar-winning A Kiss Before Dying), science fiction (This Perfect Day), comedy (No Time For Sergeants), even a Broadway musical (Drat! The Cat!)–Levin’s enduring works continue to resonate with readers and audiences, serving as iconic cultural and creative touchstones. Learn more at Levin’s official website, IraLevin.org.
Peter Straub (1943-2022) was the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels. He has won the Bram Stoker Award for his two of his novels and a short story collection, 5 Stories; he has also won a World Fantasy Award and an International Horror Guild Award. He received a BA degree in English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MA from Columbia University.
