Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
83rd out of 349 books
—
180 voters
Black Sun: The Brief Transit and Violent Eclipse of Harry Crosby
Includes an afterword by the author
Harry Crosby was the godson of J. P. Morgan and a friend of Ernest Hemingway. Living in Paris in the twenties and directing the Black Sun Press, which published James Joyce among others, Crosby was at the center of the wild life of the lost generation. Drugs, drink, sex, gambling, the deliberate derangement of the senses in the pursuit o...more
Harry Crosby was the godson of J. P. Morgan and a friend of Ernest Hemingway. Living in Paris in the twenties and directing the Black Sun Press, which published James Joyce among others, Crosby was at the center of the wild life of the lost generation. Drugs, drink, sex, gambling, the deliberate derangement of the senses in the pursuit o...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
August 31st 2003
by NYRB Classics
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
393)
This guy had it all. Money, mansions, cars, planes, his own small press, lavish parties with famous friends, a beautiful wife, a beautiful mistress, even a dog named Clytoris. He also had a death wish. Black Sun is a fascinating look at the the life and lifestyle of Harry Crosby, the original Jim Morrison. Harry wanted to fly his plane straight into the sun. Jim wanted to break on through to the other side. Well, if he had, he would have found Harry sitting there, relaxing, drink in hand, saying...more
Sometimes biographers talk about falling in love with their subjects, noting that it's hard to spend all that time with someone, researching and writing, whom they don't like. I don't know if Wolff fell in love with Crosby in any sense, but he sure finds him interesting. As do I, although I think I find Crosby rather more annoying and silly than Wolff did (although he admits to those qualities, too). He certainly doesn't claim major importance for Crosby, who was, at best, a minor writer. Wolff...more
Stellar writing on Wolff's part, though you have to tolerate the subject because he's a bit of an ass. It's the old separating art from artist thing, only in this case, separating biography from subject. Enjoyed best the setting (20s Paris, for the most part) and the cast of characters (lots of Lost Generation folk, to whom I feel an affinity of sorts).
My one issue with the book is that Harry Crosby is an asshole, which is not the author's fault. But well-written, and interesting, and Wolff is very wary of any cliched approach, either to the form of biography or to the Lost Generation history.
This was an interesting biography. It does raise the question as to whether Harry Crosby was simple a product of his times or if he was set to self destruct no matter what happened. Wolff doesn't try to force an answer on his reader.
WW1 left Harry brutally shell-shocked. He was rich, handsome, charming
and supported the arts while taking drugs and experimenting
sexually. This bio, packed w trivia, has a Puritan-American tone,
but who can't be wild about Harry?
and supported the arts while taking drugs and experimenting
sexually. This bio, packed w trivia, has a Puritan-American tone,
but who can't be wild about Harry?
This is the story of a little known would be publisher and writer/sun worshiper/Gatsby like playboy and all around freak who tore up Paris in the twenties. It's a very cool book especially if you have any interest in that period
Harry Crosby was always one of my favorite modernists, and not just because he walked a lobster to a party on a leash; not just because he committed a double suicide with his mistress; not just because he was committed worshipper of the SUN; but because he was a genuine avant-gardist who tried concrete poetry, he tried the prose poem (a form in which he excelled); he wrote copious amounts of caca, but he also wrote some of the most remarkable poems of his era, and he has been virtually forgotten...more
This gets extra stars because it's well-written and well-researched... I just got bored with it.
Feb 22, 2011
Tlcp
added it
Enjoy biographies and loved learning about the Crosbys
Sep 04, 2007
basia
added it
p. 254
His hair had gone gray, and he was obliged to roam farther and hunt harder to bag the sailors whose temporary affections he cherished, and which seemed to deflate his self-regard. He had been precocious in all things. He left his Ohio home when he was seventeen to begin his career as a poet, and once in New York immediately succeeded in making a reputation with Allen Tate, Yvor Winters, Malcolm Cowley, Waldo Frank and Sherwood Anderson. But as he ripened, so did he spoil, quickly and luxur...more
His hair had gone gray, and he was obliged to roam farther and hunt harder to bag the sailors whose temporary affections he cherished, and which seemed to deflate his self-regard. He had been precocious in all things. He left his Ohio home when he was seventeen to begin his career as a poet, and once in New York immediately succeeded in making a reputation with Allen Tate, Yvor Winters, Malcolm Cowley, Waldo Frank and Sherwood Anderson. But as he ripened, so did he spoil, quickly and luxur...more
This one will sit next to Edie: American Girl when I'm done. Can't put it down...
Rich, bored and American in Paris, Harry Crosby drank, drugged, and debauched his way through the 1920's and '30's. Surrounding himself with artists, writers, and bohemians, he established a small publishing house and gained notoriety not only for his flamboyance, but the writers he supported including James Joyce. An odd, sad story of a bright, narcissistic Peter Pan.
I have barely begun this, but had to pull it off the shelf to examine after coming across a story about Crosby's wife, Caresse; in I believe a fictitious context. The preface and first chapter snap you in and it's the most boring part of this guy's life. Will return to very soon.
May 12, 2008
lisa_emily
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
suicidal-obssessed
Shelves:
biographies-memoirs,
nyrb
This is the definitive book to read to satiate all curiosity on Harry Crosby. He will not be remembered for his literary contributions, but rather for his sordid eccentricities and his scandalous suicide.
A fascinating biography of a person who lived life large ... anyone who loves the 1920s era will appreciate this book ... the Crosby's knew everyone else of importance ...
Beautifully written. My only wish was that the author had had a more worthy subject. What an overindulged twit.
I don't know why this book made such an impact on me. I must reread it to understand.
Loved it. Didn't know about this wild dude.
I read this in college and enjoyed it
Love love love this gem
NYRB Classics!
May 15, 2013
Cari
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Stumbellina
marked it as to-read
May 08, 2013
Michelle
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Robyn
marked it as to-read
May 04, 2013
Nita
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Mar 28, 2010 01:53pm