Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven

Bestselling author Susan Jane Gilman's highly anticipated hardcover debut is a hilarious and haunting true adventure-Heart of Darkness with lip gloss.

In 1986, Susan Jane Gilman and her friend Chloe dreamed of hitting the road as modern-day female Kerouacs. Inspired by a place mat at the International House of Pancakes, they mapped out a trip circling the globe, then headed west-to China. Young, brilliant, and beautiful, they were eager to conquer the world. Unfortunately, the world had other ideas. Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche, an astrology book, and more chutzpah than sense, the two quickly found themselves on an epic misadventure. In the dusty, alien streets of Communist China, they were forced to confront their limitations amid culture shock and government surveillance. By turns funny, erotic, and harrowing, their voyage of discovery became a real-life international thriller, transforming them forever.

Following the success of her two previous trade paperback originals, Gilman is primed for her hardcover breakthrough. Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress (GCP, 1/05) has 175,000 copies in print, and averages 1,000 reorders every month. Kiss My Tiara (GCP, 2/01) has netted over 130,000 copies and counting. A fresh, funny, and ultimately compelling coming-of-age travel memoir, UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN will appeal to the hundreds of thousands of readers who loved Elizabeth Gilbert's New York Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love (Penguin, 2007) and Rita Golden Gelman's Tales of a Female Nomad (Three Rivers Press, 2002). Gilman has appeared on numerous television shows, including the Today show, Men Are from Mars, ABC World News Now, and Iyanla. She has been featured in People, Entertainment Weekly, USA TODAY,Glamour, Marie Claire, Bust, and Ms., among other publications.

PRAISE FOR SUSAN JANE GILMAN:

"Thank you, O Lord, for sending us Susan Gilman's tales."
-Frank McCourt