cover image The Iguana

The Iguana

Anna Maria Ortese. McPherson, $12 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-914232-95-7

A voyaging count stumbles on a tiny, uncharted island off Portugal. Taken in by the ruling family, he is offended by the cruel treatment of a servant who at first appears to be an old woman but is actually a young iguana. PW called this dazzling work by a much acclaimed Italian writer ``a complex fabrication.'' (October)