Sign in with Facebook
9th out of 13 books
—
6 voters
Back Street
by
Fannie Hurst
Movie tie-in
Mass Market Paperback, 441 pages
Published
1961
by Pocket Books
(first published 1931)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
46)
A train-wreck of a book. I'm actually surprised to see a fair amount of recent readers who are enthusiastic about it, because I would think its premise, about a woman who puts her entire life on-hold to be available as mistress to a married man, would be unacceptable today, especially a married man who'd be recognized today as a control freak (his favorite word is "I").
F. Scott Fitzgerald considered Fannie Hurst to be one of several authors "not producing among 'em one story or novel that will l...more
F. Scott Fitzgerald considered Fannie Hurst to be one of several authors "not producing among 'em one story or novel that will l...more
I have yet to see the film, I am not sure if I want to (I do). The book is a fab. melodrama set in the years of America and Europe 1849-1930 a "Fly Girl" Ray Schmidt falls for a Jewish Man she meets at a rail station. Impossible for any chance to marry; Ray become his lover, a lifetime follows these two. His Jewish wife and children, his success. All this time, Ray is kept, with no income other than the dollars he leaves in the Bisque figurine on the table. His sudden death leaves Ray elderly an...more
Few of the films made from Miss Hurst's novels are really true to them, especially the later ones like 1961's Back Street, but the source novel is quite captivating. Perhaps it's because I'm from Cincinnati and that 's where the story is set (at first, anyway), but the reader is drawn into the mindset of the heroine and, despite what would now seem to be ridiculous behavior, endures endless stress and torment right along with her. A fascinating glimpse into the past, thanks to the details of the...more
The only thing that this very well written novel had in common with the old Susan Hayward movie was the title and that the main character was a mistress to a married man. I remember the movie being a sappy tearjerker, the novel was so well written with a incredible view of what the world of NYC, especially for women, was like in 1930 when the book was written. So good!
Another book that was better than the movie...much better. A fascinating study of two people in love who could not marry.
This is an interesting book about a woman who is the mistress of a Jewish man. It is filled with odd old expressions. More on http://bookwinked.wordpress.com
such a very sad life!
Interesting, surprising story of a nice, Midwestern girl who becomes a kept woman. Her lover, a respectable public figure with a wife and family, remains the one love of her life. She is depicted as a good, loyal person who tragically gives up her life to someone who doesn't appreciate her. She was a doormat, but it was still a sympathetic portrayal and very modern moral sensibilities considering this book is from 1931 and set even earlier.
Mar 24, 2013
Mark Kaplan
marked it as to-read
Mar 03, 2013
Hany Ahmed
added it
Jan 01, 2013
Antonella
marked it as to-read
Dec 15, 2012
Tommy Neagu
added it
Oct 27, 2012
Jay
marked it as to-read
Sep 20, 2012
Rebecca
marked it as to-read
Sep 20, 2012
Mary
marked it as to-read
Sep 10, 2012
Amanda Qualls
marked it as to-read
Sep 04, 2012
Helen
marked it as to-read
Jun 10, 2012
Akshay
marked it as to-read
Mar 11, 2012
Kat
added it
Oct 08, 2011
Carolyn
marked it as to-read
Sep 28, 2011
Alana Wolfgang-duran
marked it as to-read
Sep 28, 2011
Elihu
marked it as to-purchase
Sep 22, 2011
Cindy
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
