The Descendants [Paperback]

terrific debut… a closely observed study of human frailty --Mail on Sunday

'Hemmings' quirkily assured touch, her grasp of the absurd ... ensures this novel's balance between heartbreak and hilarity'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'an enjoyable and enlightening ride.' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'a well-plotted, unexpectedly twisting saga' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Now a major motion picture starring George Clooney

`Simply penned and fast moving...[Matt King's] journey towards redemption is as hilarious as it is poignant' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'Hemmings' assured touch...ensures that this novel steers a deliciously scenic route between heartbreak and hilarity.'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'a brave and intelligent novel'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'Full of dark humour and astute observations, this is a deftly written rumination on the meaning of family and ancestry' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

`darkly funny ... sharp story of emotional and sexual awakening... this quietly affecting story boasts a truly appealing comic creation' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

A descendant of one of Hawaii's largest landowners, Matt King finds his luck changed when his fun-loving, flighty wife Joanie falls into a coma, victim of a boating accident. Matt is left in sole charge of his two daughters, teenage ex-model and recovering drug addict Alex, and Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old. And then Matt discovers Joanie has been having an affair. Deciding to seek out Joanie's lover so that he too has a chance to say his goodbyes, Matt takes to the road with his daughters on a memorable journey of painful revelations and unexpected humour...

Kaui Hart Hemmings is the author of the critically acclaimed short-story collection House of Thieves. Her writing has appeared in Zoetrope, Best New American Voices 2006, and The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2004. Hemmings grew up in Hawaii and lives with her husband and daughter in San Francisco.