Synopsis/blurb….
In this book,
Nathanael West, a great American satirist, nearly laughs the Horatio Alger myth
to death. Like many an Alger, Lemuel Pitkin leaves his home on the farm to seek
his fortune in the Big City. By the time he is through, he has been robbed,
bilked, thrown in jail, has lost his teeth, his eye, a leg, his scalp, and has
witnessed a remarkable number of rapes and political riots. Others in the cast:
an ex-president of the United States (just released from jail); Lem's childhood
sweetheart (now working in a Mott Street bordello); an oil-rich Indian; a
Western desperado; and assorted agents and thugs of the Communists, Fascists and
International Bankers. Through the story of Lemuel Pitkin, the four-square,
All-American hero, and his sad fate at the hands of rabble-rousers and
charlatans, West etched a classic parable of America in the chaotic Thirties.
A short 1934 book for
Rich Westwood’s Past Offences monthly meme – see here for other
contributions.
Hmm…… an ok read, no better no worse.
You sense very early on, probably on reading the alternate
title that things aren’t going to go well for Lemuel Pitkin here. And they don’t.
Short chapters which each outline a short scene in his journey
to make his fortune in post-depression America. One chapter sees a temporary
rise in his fortunes, the return of some stolen property, or the accumulation of
a few dollars, the next a rapid return to a situation even bleaker than before –
a beating at the hands of the police, followed by rapid imprisonment or losing
an eye.
And on it goes….
Readable, enjoyable enough. I liked Lemuel but kind of felt
there wasn’t an awful lot of point in rooting for him. Terrible deeds befall him and the girl of his dreams, but his unshakeable optimism endures.
Looking at a few reviews of this over on Goodreads, I’m led
to believe West was pouring scorn on the typical American Dream and the belief
that anyone could make it rich in the US, the only thing stopping them was themselves.
Hard to disagree with that notion.
3 from 5
Nathanael West wrote a handful of novels in the 30’s and
also worked as a screenwriter, before his death in 1940.
I have a collected set of his short novels, but couldn’t
find it, so ended up buying this e-version on Amazon. I’ll find it one day soon
and will hopefully get to his other stuff at some point in the future.
Glad you thought this was readable, Col, if not remarkable. I do like a bit of satire if it's done well. Not sure this particular one is for me, to be frank, but as always a nice writeup.
ReplyDeleteMargot, thanks. Some books are just ok, you don't regret reading them, but they don't really rock you. A time passer, until the next great read!
DeleteGlad to hear you found the book at least moderately enjoyable, Col -- most people tend either to love West or loathe him. I remember enjoying him a lot in my late teens/early twenties, so I really should revisit him to see what I think now.
ReplyDeleteThere were a couple of racial references I could have done without, but otherwise I'm a bit ambivalent about him.
DeleteI've read Miss Lonelyhearts - *grim*. I don't think this is really my genre though.
ReplyDeleteNot enough knitted knickers, maybe...
DeleteTrue! No one seemed to wear anything near enough clothing, actually.
DeleteI'll let you know if there's more in The Day of the Locusts!
DeleteGood choice for 1934. Like John above, I read a lot of West years ago, quite possibly including this one, but in the end find him too depressing (like Vicki). Usually short though, on the upside.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't too down after reading it, it kind of passed me by to a degree. I'll be interested to compare it to his other works.
DeleteCol – Thanks for the review. West’s The Day of the Locust is a good book. But, I don’t know this one. I’ll be on the lookout for it.
ReplyDeleteElgin, cheers for stopping by. I'll probably go for The Day of the Locust next, when I track down my volume.
DeleteCol, I see a lot of elements that should have made this story a good read but it didn't quite seem to have worked for you.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was a book that if I had read it whilst in a different kind of mood I might have enjoyed it better. I haven't been put off him yet.
DeleteMaybe it was a book that if I had read it whilst in a different kind of mood I might have enjoyed it better. I haven't been put off him yet.
DeleteI haven't been put off him yet, maybe I might have been more positive if I was in a different mood when I read it.
DeleteMultiple comments........what's going on blogger
DeleteI have never heard of the author or his books. Doesn't sound appealing to me, but at the length I might give one of them a try, if I found one of his books. I will be interested if you read another of the books.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could squeeze in one of his books Tracy - they are short! He maybe seems to divide opinions.
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