A charming memoir from one of America’s best-loved novelists, William Wharton, author of war-time classic ‘Birdy’.Before even penning his first novel, William Wharton had left his home in Los Angeles to live with his family in Paris. On a romantic whim, he makes an offer for houseboat that is, in reality, barely more than a broken wooden hulk. To his surprise, the bid is accepted. Thus begins the story of his family’s work to return the boat to its former glory and build a home for themselves from scratch.