The Lost Scrapbook is arguably the most highly praised, but least known, American debut of the last several decades. Originally published by a non-commercial house, the novel received exactly one review in the mainstream media. But that review called The Lost Scrapbook the most accomplished first novel since William Gaddis' The Recognitions, from 1955. Since then, The Lost Scrapbook has garnered exceptional acclaim, in particular from alternative magazines and from literary sites and readers' groups on the internet. Chosen by William T. Vollmann as winner of The National Fiction Competition.