A wryly humorous, impeccably observed novel about the capriciousness of loveOmar Razaghi posts a letter on September 13, 1995 that will change the course of his life forever. A doctoral student at the University of Kansas, he writes to the estate of the Latin American author Jules Gund, requesting permission to write Gund's authorized biography. His request is refused, but Omar has already accepted a fellowship from the university, and with his girlfriend's vehement encouragement, he goes in person to Uruguay to petition to Gund's three executors. Although Caroline Gund, Jules' wife, and Arden Langdon, Jules' mistress and mother of his child, are initially opposed to the idea of a biography, Omar has the support of Adam, Jules' older brother, and hopes to be able to persuade the two women. Omar's unexpected arrival in Uruguay reverberates through this odd and isolated little family group, and his stay in the languid, dreamy Ochos Rios makes him question his former life in Kansas, and his ability-even his desire-to write an "authorized" life. A novel about the random nature of love, and the ways in which we confront or avoid life's choices, The City of Your Final Destination is a touching, clever and wonderfully comic fourth novel from Peter Cameron.< Peter Cameron is the author of The Weekend and Andorra. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Grand Street, and The Paris Review. He lives in New York City.< "Delightful, unexpected, magical, romantic, and fraught with adorable entanglements."--Ann Pritchard, USA Today "Subtle, affectingly, erotically traces the beginnings, the hesitations, the advances of a love affair."--Richard Eder, The New York Times "A lightly comic novel as splendid as Peter Cameron's The City of Your Final Destination is a cause for celebration."--James Schiff, The News and Observer (Raleigh) "A very worthy, and eminently readable, addition to Cameron's graceful, witty, and insightful body of work . . . A finely crafted novel [that] continues to surprise until the final pages."--Chris Lehmann, The Washington Post "Cameron draws this sweet novel to one of the most satisfying denouements in recent memory."--John Freeman, San Francisco Chronicle<   PART ONEWe are unhappy because we do not see how our unhappiness can end; whereas what we really fail to see is that unhappiness cannot last, since even a continuance of the same condition will bring about a change of mood. For the same reason happiness does not last.—William Gerhardie, Of Mortal LoveCHAPTER ONESeptember 13, 1995Ms. Caroline Gund Ms. Arden Langdon Mr. Adam Gund Ochos Rios Tranqueras, UruguayDear Ms. Gund, Ms. Langdon, and Mr. Gund:I am writing to you because I have been told you are the executors of Jules Gund’s literary estate. I am seeking permission to write an authorized biography of Mr. Gund.I am a doctoral student at the University of Kansas. On the basis of my thesis, “Remember That? Well Forget It: The Articulation of Cultural Displacement and Linguistic Dismemberment in the Work of Jules Gund,” I have been awarded the Dolores Faye and Bertram Siebert Petrie Award for Biographical Studies. This award, which includes publication by the University of Kansas Press of the Gund biography as well as a generous research stipend, is contingent upon my receiving authorization from my subject’s estate. I hope you will agree that a well-researched biography of Jules Gund written by me would be in the best interest of his estate. I feel sure that the biography I plan to write, coupled with the burgeoning interest in Holocaust studies and Latin American literature, would markedly increase the amount of attention paid to the presently overlooked work of Jules Gund. This attention would enhance and secure the reputation of Mr. Gund, which would invariably result in increased sales of his book.In order that you may fully consider my request, I am enclosing a sample chapter and table of contents of my thesis. (Of course, I would be happy to send you the entire thesis if you would like to see it.) I am also enclosing a copy of my curriculum vitae, and the letter endorsing this project from the University of Kansas Press. I hope that after perusing this material, you will agree that I am uniquely qualified to research and write the comprehensive and sympathetic biography that Mr. Gund undoubtedly deserves.B Read Less