Saul Bellow is one of the most gifted writers ever to bless readers with an examination of the modern human condition. Early in his career, he made a living by writing book reviews, while awaiting word that some publisher finally had accepted a manuscript for any of his novels. This kind of circumstance reflects in Saul Bellow: Novels 1956-1964 and appears in an author's life chronology at the end of this collection. This chronology provides a more intimate understanding of Bellow's life as a source for content.
Bellow composed novels and translated the words of such authors as Isaac Bashevis Singer in a way that injects the dilemma of modern man, accented by some ancient parable truths of the Yiddish, unforgettably into the mind and souls of readers. This talent points out that the described circumstances of a half-century past, no matter how far distant in time, place, or flavor, teach facts about today. Saul Bellow still provides recognition, through a Jewish vision, of the potential for greatness present among the rubble of human failure. His Novels 1956-1964 are stories of men greatly disenchanted by challenges and disappointments by the time they reach mid-life, though they have not lost their human spirit to survive. They are spirited in hardship, evidenced in a writing style that produces energy, even agitation, along with humor, sadness, sympathy, and a smile of recognition.
Seize the Day
In Seize the Day, Wilhelm (Tommy) Adler seems gullible, a complete failure, and on the edge of financial destruction. Against his agent's advice early on, Tommy went to Hollywood as a movie extra. He would have loved to have become a star, but eventually applied his talents to a successful sales career. As he hit his early 40s, his company brought in "new blood" and reduced Tommy's sales territory to 50% instead of providing a promised promotion, leaving him no choice but to quit to save face.
Seize the Day
In Seize the Day, Wilhelm (Tommy) Adler seems gullible, a complete failure, and on the edge of financial destruction. Against his agent's advice early on, Tommy went to Hollywood as a movie extra. He would have loved to have become a star, but eventually applied his talents to a successful sales career. As he hit his early 40s, his company brought in "new blood" and reduced Tommy's sales territory to 50% instead of providing a promised promotion, leaving him no choice but to quit to save face.
He separated from his wife and children, and went to live at the Hotel Gloriana in Jewish New York, where his wealthy physician father resides, but receives no sympathy. It is humorous that the family name is Adler and one of the doctor's friends is Perls, providing a nod to the psychotherapists and the notion of Tommy's continual internal dialogue.
Tommy is hoodwinked by a Dr. Tamkin into giving up power of attorney in a stock market scheme and loses his last dollar, upon which his wife calls to demand money. Distraught, but self controlled, Tommy is carried into the street crowds by a wave of energy and into a funeral of a man unknown to him. Looking down into the casket, Tommy sees his own future and the futility of ambition. He weeps forlornly in the understanding that all men end this life in death.
Henderson the Rain King
In Henderson the Rain King, the crass, alcoholic American Eugene Henderson is having a 55-year-old's mid-life crisis. Although he is a millionaire, his money is not enough, his social position is not fulfilling, and his large family is not the stuff of contentment. His wives have not liked him. He has no purpose other than wanting more of everything. He is the epitome of anthropology's sometimes-assertion that Western society is full of a type of man that gets what he can. Interestingly, Bellow received one of his degrees in anthropology.
Tommy is hoodwinked by a Dr. Tamkin into giving up power of attorney in a stock market scheme and loses his last dollar, upon which his wife calls to demand money. Distraught, but self controlled, Tommy is carried into the street crowds by a wave of energy and into a funeral of a man unknown to him. Looking down into the casket, Tommy sees his own future and the futility of ambition. He weeps forlornly in the understanding that all men end this life in death.
Henderson the Rain King
In Henderson the Rain King, the crass, alcoholic American Eugene Henderson is having a 55-year-old's mid-life crisis. Although he is a millionaire, his money is not enough, his social position is not fulfilling, and his large family is not the stuff of contentment. His wives have not liked him. He has no purpose other than wanting more of everything. He is the epitome of anthropology's sometimes-assertion that Western society is full of a type of man that gets what he can. Interestingly, Bellow received one of his degrees in anthropology.
Searching to find his "more," Henderson goes on safari to the Dark Continent in search of self, or Ernest Hemingway. The novel is full of satire, extreme characterizations, and raucous jokes. It is a comic Heart of Darkness. Eugene asks his safari guide to take him to the furthest removed spot in Africa, where Bellow uses extreme stereotypes of the natives to point a sarcastic finger at white America.
Eugene meets King Dahfu, who guides the spiritually lost white man in finding the real Eugene by roaring like a lion in a cage with a lion. Henderson also accidentally "makes it rain" and becomes a native icon. So adored, he becomes a healer of sorts and returns to America with plans to enroll in medical school to meet his new purpose.
Jack Nicholson once said that the role he most wanted to play was Eugene Henderson. A movie--inspired by the novel--was produced with Nicolson as the lead. Saul Bellows would have loved to see this one: "Henderson - Cultural Learnings to Make Benefit Glorious Altruism of Rich New Doctor."
Eugene meets King Dahfu, who guides the spiritually lost white man in finding the real Eugene by roaring like a lion in a cage with a lion. Henderson also accidentally "makes it rain" and becomes a native icon. So adored, he becomes a healer of sorts and returns to America with plans to enroll in medical school to meet his new purpose.
Jack Nicholson once said that the role he most wanted to play was Eugene Henderson. A movie--inspired by the novel--was produced with Nicolson as the lead. Saul Bellows would have loved to see this one: "Henderson - Cultural Learnings to Make Benefit Glorious Altruism of Rich New Doctor."
Herzog
The paranoid protagonist of Herzog finds himself alone after third wife Madeleine leaves him for his best friend, Valentine Gersbach. He lives in a crumbling country house with rats, a middle-aged college professor with financial woes and lady problems. His newest relationship with Ramona from Argentina is not going well. The first line of the novel reads: "If I am out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog."
This Moses writes, but not on stone tablets. While traveling, he compulsively writes insane letters on a route that includes New York, Martha’s Vineyard, New York again, Chicago, and home. He writes to friends, his therapist, the President of the United States, Schrodinger, Nietzsche, a bevy of mistresses, and several dead people. He never means to mail any of these wittily insightful messages, but they help him sort life.
Herzog looks for truth and beats back life’s hypocrisy, alienation, and boredom. In the end, Moses writes letters that he feels he can actually mail in order to remedy some of his circumstances. This is a healthier mental status and Moses begins again to see Ramona, but plans not to repeat past mistakes.
Herzog is said in particular to be autobiographical and Saul Bellow inserted himself firmly into all of these three novels. This collection is a must-have.
The paranoid protagonist of Herzog finds himself alone after third wife Madeleine leaves him for his best friend, Valentine Gersbach. He lives in a crumbling country house with rats, a middle-aged college professor with financial woes and lady problems. His newest relationship with Ramona from Argentina is not going well. The first line of the novel reads: "If I am out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog."
This Moses writes, but not on stone tablets. While traveling, he compulsively writes insane letters on a route that includes New York, Martha’s Vineyard, New York again, Chicago, and home. He writes to friends, his therapist, the President of the United States, Schrodinger, Nietzsche, a bevy of mistresses, and several dead people. He never means to mail any of these wittily insightful messages, but they help him sort life.
Herzog looks for truth and beats back life’s hypocrisy, alienation, and boredom. In the end, Moses writes letters that he feels he can actually mail in order to remedy some of his circumstances. This is a healthier mental status and Moses begins again to see Ramona, but plans not to repeat past mistakes.
Herzog is said in particular to be autobiographical and Saul Bellow inserted himself firmly into all of these three novels. This collection is a must-have.
