Full description not available
H**R
Loser trilogy
This LoA volume gives us 3 Bellow novels: the short Seize the Day, and the normal size novels Henderson the Rain King, and Herzog.The short one could be called: A day in the life of a loserThe loser is Wilky Adler, a fair-haired hippopotamus in his own words, now in his mid 40s and a total failure. On the day of the action, he lives in a hotel in Manhattan. He has moved out from his wife and two kids, because of a younger woman, and he has also lost his job as a sales executive. He has a failed acting career behind him. He hardly knows how to pay for family support. His girl friend insists that he gets a divorce before continuing their relationship. He has given his last few hundred dollars to a con man for market speculation. His well-to-do father refuses to help him out with money.As the song says: if it wasn't for bad luck, he wouldn't have no luck at all.A mess of a man. He is to blame for everything bad that happened to him, because of his inability to be responsible.Is this a master piece? I am still undecided.Then comes the grotesque Bildungsroman about the big obnoxious rich man, who takes a time out and travels to Africa: Henderson. Another hippo of a man, but this time non-Jewish. A pig farmer to spite a Jewish pal from war, as he tells it. Very luxurious language for a pig farmer. He travels to Africa like Alice to Wonderland. I have no idea what the novel means, if anything, but it is quite amusing. In parts even beautiful. One could read it as an update of Innocents Abroad, if the visited places were real ones. Henderson is a different kind of loser. His projects go sour from his mindless way to attempt solutions head on.The third of the heroes in this collection, Herzog, is a real loser, but not a hippo. He loses his second wife to her change of heart. Or should one say to the realization that he is hard to live with? He loses his knack for his work as an academic and finds his mind go astray with no focus. He writes notes on this and that, and he writes letters, mostly just in his mind and generally without sending out.Of all Bellow novels that I have read so far, this is the one that I like best. In many pages it has qualities of the best Facebook rants. The narrative trick of the letters that Herzog writes to everybody under the sun works very well for me. Not all of the narration is letters though, there is much contemplative flashback too. The more one learns about him, the less surprising becomes his floundering.As Beck (the musician, not the court jester) said: I'm a loser, baby, why don't you kill me.
A**R
Good quality.
Good book, quick shipping.
C**G
The Great All Too Often Unread Novelist
For a while you could not take a literary course without encountering Bellow, Roth, Updike, Malamud, or Oates, but these writers seem to have fallen out of favor, unfairly. Bellow has a style that moves beyond style if that makes any sense whatsoever. His sentences move from the simple to the complex in seconds, and they drip with character; when he is in the third person, it is like he is in the first. Bellow is also an incredible wit. While driven by pathos, Moses Herzog is undeniably funny, and Henderson the Rain King so pure it is like reading some mad journal. Truly classics.
D**N
Bellow Novels 1956-1964
Saul Bellow is one of my favourite contemporary writers, he combines trhe American culture with a genuine background made of ancient traditional Jewish culture and humour. He is a modern, ip-to-date realist.
R**N
Laughing our way through absurdity
Marvelous compilation of one of our greatest writers. A lovely keepsake to keep and pass on. His insights always made it easier.
R**Y
Five Stars
My favorite 20th century american writer. Bellow can do no wrong...
S**Y
Five Stars
Awesome collection! A must have
A**O
Bellow Vol.2
Another great collection of Bellow's works. Hope the Library of America comes out with the next volume sooner than a year.
Trustpilot
2 weeks ago
3 weeks ago