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Vandover and the Brute
by
Frank Norris
Posthumously published in 1914, Vandover and the Brute is probably Frank Norris's first complete novel, much of it written when he was a student at Harvard in 1894-1895. The subject matter made it unacceptable to turn-of-the-century taste, and when the book finally did appear one reviewer declared that "it ought to have been issued for private circulation only" (...more
Paperback, 354 pages
Published
August 1st 1978
by UNP - Nebraska Paperback
(first published 1914)
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The naturalists certainly didn't have a Pollyanna view. Do not read these books of which Vandover is a prime example if you are feeling down as I think you might feel too drawn to the downward spiral.
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not as good as mcteague in terms of impact, but often engrossing. descriptions of 1890's san francisco bar-hopping (oyster bars with snake pits) as these upper class young male elite of sf (one of the characters is named geary) partake in drugs and alcohol and loose women, drawn to a life they ultimately consider beneath them. again, full of flawed, not quite likeable characters. i was amused by a discussion these elite college grads have about obligations to women after teh seduction is over. e...more
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Ashley
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Recommends it for:
lovers of American Gothic and Dostoevsky
This book is an amazing display of dualities - between Vandover, the preppy college kid in 1890s California, and his morally sick alter ego, The Brute. This book shows how the contrasting moralities of the different socioeconomic classes and genders coexist in the late 19th century city. Gone are the tender fireside scenes of "Little Women" and in their place are the vice districts that draw in people from all walks of life. This is novel about America's "adolescence" as i...more
I used this book in my naturalism course to discuss the brute figure in Norris' fiction. It does not show Norris' true strength as a writer-- that is probably why it was published posthumously.
Almost as good as McTeague. Norris rulez.
Sara
marked it as fiction-to-read
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Shelves:
home-library,
san-francisco-california
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Benjamin Franklin Norris, Jr. was an American novelist, during the Progressive Era, writing predominantly in the naturalist genre. His notable works include McTeague (1899), The Octopus: A California Story (1901), and The Pit (1903). Although he did not openly support socialism as a political system, his work nevertheless evinces a socialist mentality and influenced socialist/progressive writers s...more
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