A Fine and Private Place

This classic ghost story from the author of The Last Unicorn follows Jonathan who’s been living in a cemetery with a raven as his only friend amongst the newly dead until he discovers a pair of ghostly lovers bearing an extraordinary gift—the final chance for his own happiness.

For nineteen years, Jonathan Rebeck has hidden from the world within the confines of a Bronx’s cemetery, making an abandoned mausoleum his secret home. He speaks with the newly dead as they pass from life to wherever spirits finally go, providing them with comfort, an understanding ear, and even the occasional game of chess.

But Mr. Rebeck’s reclusive life is disrupted. An impossible love has blossomed between two ghosts at Yorkchester Cemetery. Helped along by a cynical, talking raven and a mysterious security guard, these four souls must learn the true difference between life and death and make choices that really are forever.

Told with an elegiac wisdom and beauty, Peter S. Beagle’s first novel is, “One of literature’s most beautiful works about ghostly times and places...told with wit, charm, and a sense of individuality” (The New York Times Book Review).

BUY THE BOOK

Published Oct 1, 2024

320 pages

Average rating: 6

1 RATING

|

Community Reviews

Green Energy
Dec 06, 2025
6/10 stars
Love, friendship, mental health? I am not sure if I enjoyed this book or not but it made me think and consider. The characters were witty and offered a relief, I am not sure what the relief was from. This is a slow pace, characters driven story. I think I will be considering this for a long while.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.