Mary Ann in Autumn

Last updated
Mary Ann in Autumn
MaryAnnInAutumn.jpg
US first edition cover
Author Armistead Maupin
Audio read byArmistead Maupin
LanguageEnglish
Series Tales of the City
GenreNovel
Published2010
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages304
ISBN 0-06-147088-0
Preceded by Michael Tolliver Lives  
Followed by The Days of Anna Madrigal  

Mary Ann in Autumn (2010) is the eighth book in the Tales of the City series by San Francisco novelist Armistead Maupin. It was released on November 2, 2010.

Contents

Premise

Mary Ann Singleton, now in her late fifties, [1] returns from New York City with a reason to seek support and a secret that she needs to share with Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver.

Plot summary

Mary Ann Singleton Carruthers flees her luxurious life in Darien, Connecticut for San Francisco, seeking solace from old friend Michael Tolliver. Reeling from both ill health and her husband's infidelity, she asks Michael if she can stay in his guest cottage while she recuperates.

Meanwhile, other former Barbary Lane residents show up in the novel: Mary Ann's adoptive daughter Shawna is a popular sex blogger and is dating Otto, a clown; [2] Anna Madrigal has mostly recovered from the stroke she had in Michael Tolliver Lives ; Michael's assistant, Jake Greenleaf, wrestles with his attraction to a closeted Mormon missionary who is involved in the movement to "cure" homosexuals; and Jake, a trans man, despairs of ever saving enough money to pay for surgery. Ironically, his dream of having a hysterectomy is the same nightmare that Mary Ann is facing.

As the novel progresses, Dede and D'Orothea show up to help Mary Ann with her recuperation, Shawna befriends a homeless junkie prostitute, Jake makes a startling discovery, and a threat from the past comes back to haunt the former Barbary Lane residents.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armistead Maupin</span> American writer

Armistead Jones Maupin, Jr. is an American writer notable for Tales of the City, a series of novels set in San Francisco.

<i>Tales of the City</i> Series of novels written by Armistead Maupin

Tales of the City is a series of ten novels written by American author Armistead Maupin from 1978 to 2024, depicting the life of a group of friends in San Francisco, many of whom are LGBTQ. The stories from Tales were originally serialized prior to their novelization, with the first four titles appearing as regular installments in the San Francisco Chronicle, while the fifth appeared in the San Francisco Examiner. The remaining titles were never serialized, but were instead originally written as novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Heggie</span> American opera composer and pianist

Jake Heggie is an American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and art songs as well as for his collaborations with internationally renowned performers and writers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The EndUp</span> Nightclub in San Francisco, United States

The EndUp is a nightclub in San Francisco, California. Opened in 1973, the club is located at 6th Street and Harrison in the South of Market district. Known for its status as an afterhours club, the venue has hosted a variety of benefits and events during its time as part of San Francisco's nightlife community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macondray Lane</span> Walking path in Russian Hill, San Francisco

Macondray Lane is a small pedestrian lane on the southeastern side of Russian Hill in San Francisco, California. It forms a wooded enclave that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 as the Russian Hill–Macondray Lane District.

<i>The Night Listener</i> (film) 2006 film by Patrick Stettner

The Night Listener is a 2006 American psychological thriller film directed by Patrick Stettner and starring Robin Williams. The screenplay by Armistead Maupin, Terry Anderson, and Stettner is based on Maupin's 2000 novel The Night Listener, which was inspired by Anthony Godby Johnson.

<i>Tales of the City</i> (1993 miniseries) Television miniseries directed by Alastair Reid

Tales of the City is a 1993 television miniseries based on the first of the Tales of the City series of novels by Armistead Maupin.

<i>Tales of the City</i> (novel) 1978 novel by Armistead Maupin

Tales of the City (1978) is the first book in the Tales of the City series by American novelist Armistead Maupin, originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle. Set in 1970s San Francisco, it follows the residents of a small apartment complex at 28 Barbary Lane, including the eccentric landlady, Anna Madrigal.

<i>More Tales of the City</i> (novel) 1980 novel by Armistead Maupin

More Tales of the City (1980) is the second book in the Tales of the City series by San Francisco novelist Armistead Maupin, originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle. It was adapted into the 1998 miniseries More Tales of the City.

<i>Further Tales of the City</i> (novel) 1982 novel by Armistead Maupin

Further Tales of the City (1982) is the third book in the Tales of the City series by San Francisco novelist Armistead Maupin, originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle. It was adapted into the 2001 miniseries Further Tales of the City.

<i>Babycakes</i> 1984 novel by Armistead Maupin

Babycakes (1984) is the fourth book in the Tales of the City series by American novelist Armistead Maupin, originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle.

<i>Significant Others</i> (novel) 1987 novel by Armistead Maupin

Significant Others (1987) is the fifth book in the Tales of the City series by American novelist Armistead Maupin. It originally was serialized in the San Francisco Examiner.

<i>Sure of You</i> 1989 novel by Armistead Maupin

Sure of You (1989) is the sixth book in the Tales of the City series by San Francisco novelist Armistead Maupin. The story takes place around the eve of the 1988 presidential election in the U.S., three years after the previous book Significant Others. The book was written as the end of the Tales series and is the antithesis of the first book.

<i>Michael Tolliver Lives</i> A novel

Michael Tolliver Lives (2007) is the seventh book in the Tales of the City series by San Francisco novelist Armistead Maupin.

<i>Maybe the Moon</i> 1992 novel by Armistead Maupin

Maybe the Moon is a 1992 novel written by San Francisco novelist Armistead Maupin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Litquake</span>

Litquake is San Francisco's annual literary festival. Originally named Litstock, the festival events took place in a single day in Golden Gate Park in the spring of 1999. It now has a two-week run in mid-October, as well as year-round programs and workshops.

Wesley Taylor is an American stage actor and writer, best known for his work in musical theatre and television.

<i>The Days of Anna Madrigal</i> 2014 novel by Armistead Maupin

The Days of Anna Madrigal (2014) is the ninth book in the Tales of the City series by American novelist Armistead Maupin. It was billed as the final book in the series, although in 2024 Maupin returned to the series with Mona of the Manor.

<i>Tales of the City</i> (2019 miniseries) American LGBT drama television miniseries

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is an American drama television miniseries that premiered June 7, 2019, on Netflix, based on the Tales of the City novels by Armistead Maupin. Laura Linney, Paul Gross, Olympia Dukakis, and Barbara Garrick reprise their roles from previous television adaptations of Maupin's books: the original Tales of the City in 1993, and the sequels More Tales of the City (1998) and Further Tales of the City (2001). The series was Dukakis's final television role before her death.

Jennifer Kroot is an American filmmaker whose films include the documentaries It Came From Kuchar (2009) and To Be Takei (2014).

References

  1. "Review: Mary Ann in Autumn by Armistead Maupin". The Book Stop. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  2. "Mary Ann in Autumn by Armistead Maupin". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-09-26.