On the release of his short stories in 1958, Brodkey was hailed as a major writer; the release of this, his first novel, announced in 1964 and subject to numerous delays and revisions, is thus one of the most long-awaited and keenly-anticipated events in American publishing and literary circles.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Harold Brodkey lives in New York City. He has taught writing and literature at Cornell University and at the City University of New York. His many honours include two first place O'Henry Awards.
Brodkey's long, long, long-awaited first novel that could not possibly live up to expectations--and yet, largely, does. One must forgive Brodkey or oneself for not being able to take in every page of this 800-page novel with equal thirst. Tedious passages, reread later, spring to life--and some remain tiresome (for now). The story focuses on the childhood, youth, and first marriage (not in that order!) of Wiley Silenowicz, a Missouri genius, and the role of his hideously vile-tempered sister Nonie as a shadow in all people Wiley meets or marries. Earlier sketches seen in Stories in an Almost Classical Mode (1988) are mere charcoal prefigurings of what appears here--and seem pared and objective set beside the bathyspheric subjectivity of the novel. The plot?--a psychic web of small electrical events feeding and racing everywhere, and never stated formally. Nothing happens now: every action arrives through a veil, often at merciless length. Wiley, at two, has been adopted by S.L. and Lila of St. Louis, who have a blood-daughter, Nonie, 11 years older than Wiley. Nonie, who must give pain to be alive, rules the roost, and we follow her demonic life until her death by fire in her early 40s (Wiley tells this story, a hugely askew elegy, nearly 20 years after her death). Events include baby sensations as S.L. lifts up Wiley and walks about filling him with fatherly advice; Lila's fabulous car accident as she forgetfully drives her Buick into a bus, flees on three-inch heels wearing a fox neckpiece; masturbation solo and in tandem; vast sex scenes, one at 14, his first coupling (almost), which is forever interrupted by Nonie, and a later sexfest with his deliberately inorgasmic wife Ora; trips with a homosexual older cousin; and separate death-scenes for S.L. and Lila, which spread all over the novel. Forget the Proust comparison. Brodkey is himself, and many pages here have the deep-rolling profound thrust, painterly originality, and lightning-bolt flash of great art. But many readers will fade early. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 6.66
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. The Runaway Soul This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780224030014
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: UNSPECIFIED. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Inscription on the first page, typically just a name but may include a dedication or a brief personal message. Seller Inventory # CHL9933820
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780224030014
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: medimops, Berlin, Germany
Condition: good. Befriedigend/Good: Durchschnittlich erhaltenes Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit Gebrauchsspuren, aber vollständigen Seiten. / Describes the average WORN book or dust jacket that has all the pages present. Seller Inventory # M00224030019-G
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR004692136
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: BoundlessBookstore, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: USED_GOOD. 1st GB edition. Boards are clean. Content has toning. Good DJ is clean. Seller Inventory # 9999-9992421361
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Glass Key, Montmorillon, France
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: very good. First UK edition. First printing. Black cloth boards stamped in gilt on the spine. A clean, unmarked copy in a tight binding and unclipped dust jacket. Seller Inventory # 91289
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Russell Books, Victoria, BC, Canada
Hardcover. Condition: Good. First Edition. Bargain book!. Seller Inventory # XB002861
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Antiquariat Bookfarm, Löbnitz, Germany
Hardcover. 1. publ. in Great Britain. 835 S. Ehem. Bibliotheksexemplar mit Signatur und Stempel. GUTER Zustand, ein paar Gebrauchsspuren. Ex-library with stamp and library-signature. GOOD condition, some traces of use. 9780224030014 Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 900. Seller Inventory # 2350034
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Kennys Bookstore, Olney, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Fine in dustwrapper. An excellent copy. 1991. 1st. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # KTJ0050132
Quantity: 1 available