Paul Auster’s final book of fiction is partly autobiographical. S.T Baumgarten is in his 70’s, a childless widower, who is a well regarded professor of philosophy at Princeton. Through his daydreams and reminiscences, the reader learns most of the major events in his life as well as those of his parents and his wife’s.

Although Baumgarten is not Auster’s best work, it is a worthwhile read. It is a fine character study and if you are a Paul Auster fan, you will want to read the last novel he wrote. However, if you do not enjoy ambiguous endings, I don’t suggest you read Baumgarten.