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Tarr
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Tarr
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Rating: 3 stars4 out of 5 of my Goodreads friends who read this gave it a 5 star rating. Clearly, something was lost on me when reading this book.
The book is about two expat artists in Paris and their relationships with two women, also expats. The book is set prior to WWI. The character of Tarr (the American expat) is somewhat semi-autobiographical. I found it odd that Lewis introduced a couple of major characters near the end of the story. Overall, just okay for me.
3 stars- finally a Wyndham Lewis book I don't absolutely hate (he is my least favorite writer to appear more than once on the list). I thought some of the plot was funny, and the send-ups of the European elite going to Paris to cosplay as deep bohemian starving artists is on point- and timeless. But unfortunately, he to put in too much of his regular nonsense (through his self insert) about how smart he is, his dumb misogyny, and belittling a scene he is the epitome of (but no no he is somehow better than the other philandering, obnoxious, pretentious, privileged expats...sure buddy). That took it down 2 stars for me. A curse on whoever decided that this much of him needed to be on the list lol.
Although published as a book in 1918, Wyndham Lewis wrote the story Tarr between 1909 and 1911, expanded it in 1914 to 15 and published it in serial form in 1916 to 1917. The book predates the first world war and has been called a book that anticipated the war, presumably because it blatantly plays with national stereotypes with the English gentleman Tarr 's calm intelligence juxtaposed against the less erudite German, Otto Kreisler, who is more likely to use violence rather than stay calm.
A modernist novel, it does not display any of the stream of consciousness nor does it delve into a realistic psychological interior dialogue that many of Lewis' contemporaries were using in their writing. Rather, Lewis writes a dark satirical story that tells of two artists living in Paris who are both interested in differing ways in the same two women. Tarr is very well schooled, has some small talent in painting, and at least has enough funds to keep him in paint, good dining and a nice studio. Otto Kreisler gets a check monthly from his father, has little talent, is well schooled but does not flaunt it as Tarr does and struggles to keep up any kind of appearances as he is perpetually short of funds. Bertha is a woman who Tarr has promised to marry. She is a big German "milk cow" (to quote Tarr) who he decides to leave but never does. Anastasya is a Russia who was born in Berlin and grew up in America. She is very intelligent, beautiful and sees no need to adhere strictly speaking to the social protocols of the day. Otto falls for Anastasya quickly and deeply but ends up romancing Bertha. Tarr romances Anastaya but ends up never being able to leave Bertha. Mayhem ensues.
The book is absolutely riddled with literary and historical references to prove that Tarr, Kreisler and Anastasya are all extremely well educated. It also serves to prove that Lewis is extremely well educated. Somewhat like doing a crossword puzzle, the notes to all these references became more interesting than the story itself. The problem with this satire is that it is not funny once the touchstones of the times are lost to the reader. Lewis mocks the bourgeois - bohemians of his day and there are times when I could find some humor in the set pieces....however, I did not find the sexual interactions funny. In one scene for example, Kreisler thumbs his nose at the bourgeois group at an English Club ball by harassing all the women, not just the young and good looking. Tarr pontificates constantly, often about art and the place of women in art. He falls in love with Anastasya after becoming truly impressed with her mind, but then realizes he doesn't want the competition.
The writing style is quite dense and the thoughts of the characters focus on their place in the judgements of themselves and others rather than on their own feelings. For example, we read how Bertha believes she needs to react civilly to Kreisler even though he has not been civil to her because she has already told a story about him to her circle of friends and doesn't want to undermine it. There were few emotional components that I was able to sympathize with, although the characters talk of despair, love and faithfulness. There was also little wit for me to grasp. Ultimately, the story is a tragedy and not only from a plot perspective....
One thing I really loved was the fact that the book included a map of Paris so I was able to see where the characters were at any moment in the story. That was a delight.