This first edition hardcover is near fine, no marks, pages are tight and appear unread, the book is tight, square, and unmarked. The dust jacket is unmarked, red cloth boards, and bright gilt lettering on the spine of the book. Villages by John Updike, published in 2004, centers on Owen Mackenzie, a successful entrepreneur in computer software, as he reflects on his life, relationships, and experiences with love and intimacy. The novel traces Owen’s journey from his boyhood in a small Pennsylvania town to his later years in New England, exploring the various villages that shaped his personal and romantic life. Through Owen's story, Updike offers a meditation on memory and the evolving landscape of American life.