Papering the House

From the New York Times bestselling author, critic, and columnist, a memoir about the tangled pursuits of art, ambition, and belonging, set against the backdrop of a tumultuous and tragic era of New York theater

In 1980, Frank Rich joined the New York Times as a drama critic, a dream job thrusting him into the heart of the theater world he had sought as a refuge during his troubled childhood. But what he found upon arriving at Times Square was a far cry from his youthful fantasies. Broadway was growing dark, unable to fill its houses and about to face the devastation of AIDS. It was the end of an era, but as Rich would discover, the beginning of his own second act.

Papering the House is Rich's account of those vibrant but bittersweet years, of the theater he worshipped, and the life he built around it. He recreates opening-night intrigue, the smoke-filled New York newsrooms in the final decade of the print era, and towering personalities, including Stephen Sondheim, Joe Papp and David Merrick, and he recounts the controversies he waded into as a critic alongside the industry’s existential crises. As he navigates young fatherhood, divorce, new love, and great loss, Rich must reexamine why he sought shelter in the theater all those years ago, and in that long overdue reckoning, discovers that the story he must finally understand is his own.

At once an ode to theater, its joys and its disappointments, and an evocative meditation on family—both the one we inherit and the one we try, however imperfectly, to build for ourselves—Papering the House is the moving memoir of the boy who ran away to the theater, and the man who had to find his way back to the world beyond the footlights.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs