The book derives its name from the following quote from Andrew Marvell's To His Coy Mistress: "The grave's a fine and private place, but none, I think, do there embrace."
 Peter S. Beagle This fantasy novel is one of my favorite in all the world. |  Original release cover. "A Fine and Private Place" Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_Fine_and_Private_Place.jpg #/media/File:A_Fine_and_Private_Place.jpg |
It takes place in the fictional Yorkchester Cemetery which is cared for by Jonathan Rebeck, a homeless and bankrupt pharmacist, who in turn is cared for by a raven who brings him sandwiches. This is much like the biblical raven who fed Elijah in the wilderness.
Rebeck can communicate to the raven and to the departed souls. One such soul, is newly departed, Michael Morgan, who either was poisoned by his wife or committed suicide. He can’t remember which. He starts out in the coffin, but then pops free into the cemetery where his soul is bound. Soon another soul emerges, Laura Durand, a bookshop clerk, who was killed by a truck.
Rebeck can communicate to the raven and to the departed souls. One such soul, is newly departed, Michael Morgan, who either was poisoned by his wife or committed suicide. He can’t remember which. He starts out in the coffin, but then pops free into the cemetery where his soul is bound. Soon another soul emerges, Laura Durand, a bookshop clerk, who was killed by a truck.
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The two souls fall in love and make this pledge to each other, "for as long as I can remember love."
Rebeck also finds love with Mrs. Klapper, a widow who discovers him while visiting her husband's mausoleum. Their story makes for a quirky, yet wonderful account of an unlikely quintet of characters.
Meanwhile the raven continues to bring them word, via the newspaper of Morgan’s wife’s poison trial. She is found innocent. Her husband's death ruled suicide. Morgan then faces separation from Laura when his body is removed to unhallowed ground. Mrs. Klapper talks Rebeck, into finding a way to reunite the two love souls, and he finally leaves the cemetery for the first time in twenty years.
Meanwhile the raven continues to bring them word, via the newspaper of Morgan’s wife’s poison trial. She is found innocent. Her husband's death ruled suicide. Morgan then faces separation from Laura when his body is removed to unhallowed ground. Mrs. Klapper talks Rebeck, into finding a way to reunite the two love souls, and he finally leaves the cemetery for the first time in twenty years.
Peter S. Beagle was born in Manhattan on April 20, 1939. Today he is 76. He also wrote The Last Unicorn which made him famous. A Fine and Private Place was released in 1960 and written when Beagle was 19 years old. I loved his style of writing which flowed so nicely across the pages. You don’t have to think about the words. He writes like my brain thinks.
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A Fine and Private Place was apparently made into a musical, but was withdrawn by the author’s request. My wife always said that a serious stage play should have been play written for this story.
A comic book version was made by IDW Publishing, but only the first of five has been published.
A comic book version was made by IDW Publishing, but only the first of five has been published.
Peter S. Beagle is truly one of the greats.
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