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The River Journey
A middle-aged woman MINERVA PARKINSON lives with her longtime husband HENRY along the Missouri River. Minerva receives some startling news after a routine check-up: she is dying. Since her marriage to Henry has been listless for many years, she decides not to share her grave diagnosis with him. Instead, she plans one last hurrah so that he will have warm and lasting memories of their time together. Minerva buys a houseboat as Henry has always dreamed of taking a riverboat trip, and they set off down the Missouri. Her plans suddenly become complicated when they meet two strangers NORA STEVENS, an innocent young woman looking for love and companionship, and MR. MORTIMER, a mysterious man who possesses wisdom and knowledge beyond the worldly realm. We soon discover that Mr. Mortimer's real identity is 'Death' and that he's been assigned to take Minerva with him to the other side. As they travel down the Missouri, Minerva notices an attraction between her husband and Nora. Initially this is hurtful, but she loves her husband and wants him to be happy. Meanwhile, Mortimer reminds her the 'clock is ticking'. Minerva agrees to go with him but asks that he wait until they have finished their journey. She wants her husband to enjoy this trip and even considers Nora a suitable companion for Henry. This kind and selfless act touches Mortimer's heart, and he falls in love with her. Mortimer, who is bound by duty, takes Minerva to the other side and, in a surprise twist, also takes Nora. Later, a wistful Henry falls asleep dreaming only of his loving wife. "The River Journey" deals with love, death, and the quest for companionship that will stand the test of time.
"This is pure Nathan: smooth, unpretentious, dove-colored writing, the satire gentle, the fantasy controlled."
--John Woodburn, Saturday Review of Literature
"This is pure Nathan: smooth, unpretentious, dove-colored writing, the satire gentle, the fantasy controlled."
--John Woodburn, Saturday Review of Literature
- GenresFiction
83 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2012
About the author
Robert Nathan
102 books61 followersRobert Gruntal Nathan was born into a prominent New York Sephardic family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University for several years beginning in 1912. It was there that he began writing short fiction and poetry. However, he never graduated, choosing instead to drop out and take a job at an advertising firm to support his family (he married while a junior at Harvard). It was while working in 1919 that he wrote his first novel—the semi-autobiographical work Peter Kindred—which was a critical failure. But his luck soon changed during the 1920s, when he wrote seven more novels, including The Bishop's Wife, which was later made into a successful film starring Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young.
During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.
In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."
Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan and author Annie Nathan Meyer were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins
During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.
In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."
Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan and author Annie Nathan Meyer were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 18, 2020
I discovered Robert Nathan when I saw the 1948 film Portrait of Jennie about a young girl who seems to be slipping through time. I can’t remember how I came upon Nathan again but he is a fascinating writer, more speculative than fantasy to my mind and definitely ahead of his time. Luckily a lot of his books have been reprinted as very inexpensive ebooks.
In River Journey, middle-aged Minerva Parkinson lives with her longtime husband Henry along the banks of the Missouri. When she discovers that she is dying she decides not to tell her husband. Instead she buys a houseboat and they go on a river journey down the Missouri. Two people join them, a troubled young woman, Nora Stephens and the mysterious Mr Mortimer, who just happens to be death in disguise.
Nathan has such a light touch, the weariness of the marriage is cleverly evoked in a few words. Minerva doesn’t scream and carry on about her fate and the husband is oblivious. And then there’s Mr Mortimer.
We first meet Mr Mortimer, a travelling salesman, when he drops in to see Nora, who has a rheumatic heart but it is surprised to see him for a second time. The reader of course, thinks he we go - he’s come to get her but no, Nathan is wilier than that. This is familiar territory for people who have seen the 1998 film Meet Joe Black or even the earlier movie Death Takes a Holiday but River Journey was published in 1949.
It is his exchanges with Minerva though, that I really enjoyed. Minerva at first wonders why Henry has asked Mr Mortimer and Nora on the boat. She was hoping, of course, that it would be just the two of them. She is also critical of Mortimer’s relationship with Nora as she is so much younger than him. He does, however, seem to know the river and along the journey things change.
“She turned to Mr Mortimer. “You’re a strange person,” she said. “You don’t talk like anyone I have ever heard.”
“I talk for you,” said Mr Mortimer simply.
“The fire spurted for a moment, and then died down. Below them, on the bank, frogs sang; a cicada shrilled in the darkness. And beyond them, the black river moved quietly along the shore, bending the reeds.
Minerva found herself leaning against the curve of Mr Mortimer’s shoulder. It seemed to her than under his shirt his flesh was cold; it was like leaning against a bag of ice...except that she couldn’t really be sure that she was actually leaning against anything. She had a curious feeling that Mr Mortimer had no flesh; that he was as incorporeal as the night.”
A simple but compelling novel. Highly recommended.
In River Journey, middle-aged Minerva Parkinson lives with her longtime husband Henry along the banks of the Missouri. When she discovers that she is dying she decides not to tell her husband. Instead she buys a houseboat and they go on a river journey down the Missouri. Two people join them, a troubled young woman, Nora Stephens and the mysterious Mr Mortimer, who just happens to be death in disguise.
Nathan has such a light touch, the weariness of the marriage is cleverly evoked in a few words. Minerva doesn’t scream and carry on about her fate and the husband is oblivious. And then there’s Mr Mortimer.
We first meet Mr Mortimer, a travelling salesman, when he drops in to see Nora, who has a rheumatic heart but it is surprised to see him for a second time. The reader of course, thinks he we go - he’s come to get her but no, Nathan is wilier than that. This is familiar territory for people who have seen the 1998 film Meet Joe Black or even the earlier movie Death Takes a Holiday but River Journey was published in 1949.
It is his exchanges with Minerva though, that I really enjoyed. Minerva at first wonders why Henry has asked Mr Mortimer and Nora on the boat. She was hoping, of course, that it would be just the two of them. She is also critical of Mortimer’s relationship with Nora as she is so much younger than him. He does, however, seem to know the river and along the journey things change.
“She turned to Mr Mortimer. “You’re a strange person,” she said. “You don’t talk like anyone I have ever heard.”
“I talk for you,” said Mr Mortimer simply.
“The fire spurted for a moment, and then died down. Below them, on the bank, frogs sang; a cicada shrilled in the darkness. And beyond them, the black river moved quietly along the shore, bending the reeds.
Minerva found herself leaning against the curve of Mr Mortimer’s shoulder. It seemed to her than under his shirt his flesh was cold; it was like leaning against a bag of ice...except that she couldn’t really be sure that she was actually leaning against anything. She had a curious feeling that Mr Mortimer had no flesh; that he was as incorporeal as the night.”
A simple but compelling novel. Highly recommended.
December 21, 2022
Un libro piccolo, veloce e scorrevole ma molto tenero e pieno di spunti di riflessione. La trama di per sé è molto semplice: una donna scopre che non le rimane più molto da vivere e decide di fare il viaggio che il marito sogna ma che non hanno mai avuto il coraggio di intraprendere con lo scopo di potergli lasciare degli ultimi bellissimi ricordi.
Come anche in Ritratto di Jennie, Robert Nathan introduce sempre un elemento surreale, onirico, che affascina il lettore ed eleva la storia, all'apparenza quasi banale. La cosa che mi ha però tenuto attaccata alla narrazione non sono né i protagonisti né l'elemento "altro" ma un personaggio che sembra di contorno e che invece ha dato spessore e rilevanza a tutto, pur rimanendo in secondo piano.
Come anche in Ritratto di Jennie, Robert Nathan introduce sempre un elemento surreale, onirico, che affascina il lettore ed eleva la storia, all'apparenza quasi banale. La cosa che mi ha però tenuto attaccata alla narrazione non sono né i protagonisti né l'elemento "altro" ma un personaggio che sembra di contorno e che invece ha dato spessore e rilevanza a tutto, pur rimanendo in secondo piano.
December 29, 2021
Credo che sia il più bel libro letto nel 2021.
Affascinante, emozionante, coinvolgente, c'è tutto in questo breve romanzo per essere un libro assolutamente da leggere.
Affascinante, emozionante, coinvolgente, c'è tutto in questo breve romanzo per essere un libro assolutamente da leggere.
February 10, 2014
Excellent novel. A great read. A story that embraces the notion of true love and what we will do to hold onto it.
October 7, 2018
A dying woman wants to leave a memory for her husband by travelling down a river in a boat. Another simple, warm and moving story from Robert Nathan. The cast is made up of four interesting characters. You're left at times wondering what's going to happen. For me, Nathan is the most underappreciated of writers - full of warmth and romance, often with a subtle hint of dreamy fantasy.
September 18, 2016
Poetico. Per certi versi mi ha ricordato l'Opera Galleggiante di John Barth. Riflessioni sulla vita, ma soprattutto sulla morte.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews