Steve Martin to publish novel about New York's fine art scene

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American actor and author Steve Martin has a new novel slated to be published, reported UK publishing resource The Bookseller on May 19. Set amidst New York's fine art world, An Object of Beauty will be out in both North America and the UK in late November.

An Object of Beauty will reportedly examine the "glamour and subterfuge" of the scene as well as the "gold rush" moment in contemporary art prices and will include 24 images.

According to a publisher's description: "Lacey Yeager is young, captivating, and ambitious enough to take the NYC art world by storm. Groomed at Sotheby's and hungry to keep climbing the social and career ladders put before her, Lacey charms men and women, old and young, rich and even richer with her magnetic charisma and liveliness. Her ascension to the highest tiers of the city parallel the soaring heights - and, at times, the dark lows - of the art world and the country from the late 1990s through today."

The book is due out November 23 from Little, Brown USA and November 23 by UK publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Former stand-up comedian and the star of films including The Jerk, Father of the Bride, and It's Complicated, Steve Martin has written several screenplays ( Roxanne, L.A. Story, and Bowfinger, in all of which he also starred). He is also the author of a play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile; Pure Drivel, a collection of comic pieces that previously ran in The New Yorker; and Shopgirl, a novella that was made into a film starring Martin and Claire Danes.