The Royal Family is a novel by the American author William T. Vollmann. The novel centers around Henry Tyler's private investigative work and his personal desire to find the mysterious Queen of Whores, the matriarch of the prostitutes in the area of Tenderloin, San Francisco.
Structure
The novel is divided into thirty-six books, sub-divided into five hundred and ninety-three chapters.
Book I, The Reduction Method
Book II, Irene
Book III, Visits and Visitations
Book IV, Billable Hours
Book V, The Mark of Cain
Book VI, Ladies of the Queen
Book VII, Sometimes It Helps to Talk About These Things
Book VIII, Sunflower
Book IX, Easier Than You Might Ever Dream
Book X, An Essay on Bail
Book XI, Easier Than You Might Ever Dream (continued) Book XII, The False Irene Book XIII, "Business Comes First" Book XIV, Domino Book XV, Vigs Book XVI, The Queen of Las Vegas Book XVII, Buying Their Dream Home Book XVIII, Feminine Circus Book XIX, A Meditation on the Stock Market Book XX, "Demons Are Here" Book XXI, Jesus Book XXII, The Wicked King's Secret Book XXIII, Justin Book XXIV, Sapphire Book XXV, The Truth Book XXVI, Celia Book XXVII, Geary Street Book XXVIII, John Book XXIX, Space Invaders Book XXX, Little Baby Birds Book XXXI, Filial Duties Book XXXII, The Fall of Canaan Book XXXIII, Kitty's Soliloquy Book XXXIV, Dan Smooth Book XXXV, Coffee Camp Book XXXVI, The Royal Family