The Runaway Soul
Encyclopedia
The Runaway Soul, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 1991, first edition ISBN 9-780374-252861, Library of Congress
catalog card number 91-75885, is the long-awaited first novel by Harold Brodkey
. It represents either part of all of the work that Brodkey labored over for more than a quarter century, and which had originally been announced as A Party of Animals.
The plot of the novel concerns Brodkey's autobiographical character, Wiley Silenowicz, whose fate closely parallels the author's own childhood in St. Louis in the 1930s. Stylistically, the novel attempts to render sensation into language, following the style of Brodkey's celebrated New Yorker
stories. In terms of material, much of The Runaway Soul was drawn from Brodkey's second collection of short stories, Stories in an Almost Classical Mode
, which in turn was made of Brodkey's entire story output during the period 1963 to 1988.
The reviews of The Runaway Soul were mixed, and some quite negative. Time magazine's review on publication was lukewarm at best, ending with the observation, "[O]ne of the earliest [chapter headings] says volumes about the volume to follow. It is titled 'The Masturbation'." Newsweek's
reviewer, while also damning it with faint praise
, ended the review by stating. "The Runaway Soul is absolutely the last book you want to say this about, but it could have used a rewrite." It did, however, receive a long, favorable review by D.M. Thomas.
Little has been written about the book since Brodkey's death in 1996, and it seems to have fallen into neglect.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
catalog card number 91-75885, is the long-awaited first novel by Harold Brodkey
Harold Brodkey
Harold Brodkey, born Aaron Roy Weintraub was an American writer, and novelist.-Life:Brodkey was raised in University City, Missouri outside St. Louis...
. It represents either part of all of the work that Brodkey labored over for more than a quarter century, and which had originally been announced as A Party of Animals.
The plot of the novel concerns Brodkey's autobiographical character, Wiley Silenowicz, whose fate closely parallels the author's own childhood in St. Louis in the 1930s. Stylistically, the novel attempts to render sensation into language, following the style of Brodkey's celebrated New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
stories. In terms of material, much of The Runaway Soul was drawn from Brodkey's second collection of short stories, Stories in an Almost Classical Mode
Stories in an Almost Classical Mode
Stories in an Almost Classical Mode is a short story collection by the American writer Harold Brodkey, published in 1988 by Alfred A. Knopf. Most of the stories were published in The New Yorker, between 1963 and 1988. It was Brodkey's first book in 30 years, and presaged his much-heralded but...
, which in turn was made of Brodkey's entire story output during the period 1963 to 1988.
The reviews of The Runaway Soul were mixed, and some quite negative. Time magazine's review on publication was lukewarm at best, ending with the observation, "[O]ne of the earliest [chapter headings] says volumes about the volume to follow. It is titled 'The Masturbation'." Newsweek's
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
reviewer, while also damning it with faint praise
Damn with faint praise
Damn with faint praise is an English idiom for words that effectively condemn by seeming to offer praise which is too moderate or marginal to be considered praise at all...
, ended the review by stating. "The Runaway Soul is absolutely the last book you want to say this about, but it could have used a rewrite." It did, however, receive a long, favorable review by D.M. Thomas.
Little has been written about the book since Brodkey's death in 1996, and it seems to have fallen into neglect.
See also
- Stories in an Almost Classical ModeStories in an Almost Classical ModeStories in an Almost Classical Mode is a short story collection by the American writer Harold Brodkey, published in 1988 by Alfred A. Knopf. Most of the stories were published in The New Yorker, between 1963 and 1988. It was Brodkey's first book in 30 years, and presaged his much-heralded but...
- The World Is the Home of Love and DeathThe World is the Home of Love and DeathThe World Is the Home of Love and Death: Stories is a collection of short stories written by Harold Brodkey and first published posthumously in 1997. Most of the stories were written to be part of his novel The Runaway Soul and concern its characters...