Ryder

Wendell Ryder presides over an unconventional household where competing passions, shifting loyalties, and eccentric personalities collide under one roof. Surrounded by wives, lovers, children, and relatives, he attempts to maintain harmony within a family whose complex relationships challenge social norms and conventional expectations at every turn.

Drawing inspiration from her own family history, Djuna Barnes weaves together humor, satire, folklore, and vivid storytelling to create a richly imaginative portrait of domestic life. Spanning generations and told in a variety of literary styles, Ryder explores love, desire, family, and individuality while offering a playful yet insightful examination of the tensions between personal freedom and social convention.