By Nightfall is the sixth novel by Pulitzer Prize winning American author Michael Cunningham.
Peter and his wife, RebeccaâÂÂwho edits a mid-level art magazineâÂÂhave settled into a comfortable life in Manhattan's art world, but their staid existence is disrupted by the arrival of Rebecca's much younger brother, EthanâÂÂknown as Mizzy, short for "The Mistake." Family golden child Mizzy is a recovering drug addict whose current whim has landed him in New York where he wants to pursue a career in "the arts." Watching MizzyâÂÂwhose resemblance to a younger Rebecca unnerves PeterâÂÂcoast through life without responsibilities makes Peter question his own choices and wonder if it's more than Mizzy's freedom that he covets.