Publisher, HighBridge Audio (May 2005)

"An original and moving love story for our frazzled, high-tech, long-distance era." —Emma Donoghue

"Raymond and Hannah feels like a much-needed roll in he hay after a long demoralizing dry spell. Marche's writing is both muscularly clear and infused with powerful poetic rhythms... sexual passages are elevated by exuberant wit." —Quill and Quire (Canada)

"Stephen Marche is a wonderful writer, and Raymond & Hannah is a rare combination of heart and wit. An impressive debut." —Brian Morton, author of A Window Across the River

In this remarkable debut novel, carnal love confronts religion and culture, and modern passion finds its counterpoint in ancient texts. A sexy, surprising, contemporary story that reflects the multiculturalism of love today.

A week before she's due to leave for Jerusalem, Hannah meets Raymond at a party. A one-night stand surprisingly expands into a week-long, passionate love affair. While Hannah leaves for nine months to study Torah at an orthodox yeshiva, Raymond stays behind, researching his doctorate on love in Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy, struggling with loneliness and Hannah's increasing religious fervor. Can this new love affair survive six thousand miles, cultural dissonance, and out-of-sync, late-night emails?

In this remarkably contemporary love story, carnal love confronts religion and culture, and modern passion finds its counter point in ancient texts.