美国文学史扩充资料第8部分

《美国文学史》扩充资料第8部分多元文化与当代美国文学PartI.BackgroundReading（阅读要点）:（暂缺）PartII.MeettheAuthors（作家简介）：MajorAmericanJewishwriters(1)SaulBellow(1915-2005)BELLOW,SAUL(June10,1915-2005),Americannovelist,wrote:'MyparentsemigratedtoCanadafromRussiain1913--myfather,abusinessman,hasoftentoldmethatheimportedEgyptianonionsintoSt.Petersburg—andsettledinthetownofLachine,Quebec.Iwasborntherein1915,theyoungestoffourchildren.UntilIwasnineyearsoldwelivedinoneofthepoorestandmostancientdistrictsofMontreal,ontheslopeofSt.DominickStreetbetweentheGeneralHospitalandRachelMarket.'In1924wemovedtoChicago.IgrewupthereandconsidermyselfaChicagoan,outandout.EducatedafterafashionintheChicagoschools,IenteredtheUniversityofChicagoin1933.InthatyeartheHutchinsrevolutionwasalreadyunderwayandtheuniversitywas,forme,aterrifyingplace.Thedenseatmosphereoflearning,ofculturaleffort,heavilyoppressedme;IfeltthatwisdomandculturewereimmenseandthatIwashopelesslysmall.In1935Itransferredto'Graduateschooldidn'tsuitme,however.IhadascholarshipattheUniversityof'Iwillsaythisformychoice:therearemanyprofessionsthatonemayfollowwithoutenthusiasm,butthoughtheremaybeasmanyunenthusiasticnovelists,proportionately,asthereareunenthusiasticengineersordentists,theymustconsiderthemselvesinfidelsandtheyfeeltheirunbeliefandtreasonkeenly.Vividnessiswhattheymustdesiremostandsotheymustvaluehumanexistenceorbeunfaithfultotheircalling.'It'sobvioustoeveryonethatthestatureofcharactersinmodernnovelsissmallerthanitoncewas,andthisdiminutionpowerfullyconcernsthosewhovalueexistence.Idonotbelievethathumancapacitytofeelordocanreallyhavedwindledorthatthequalityofhumanityhasdegenerated.Iratherthinkthatpeopleappearsmallerbecausesocietyhasbecomesoimmense.Hugestofallarethefearsthatsurroundus.Thesearewhatmakeithardforustodetermineourpropersizeandtheimportanceofourdeeds.''Bygeneralcriticalagreement,'HaroldBloomhaswritten,'SaulBellowisthestrongestAmericannovelistofhisgeneration.'Bellowhasmaintainedthiseminencedespitetheobjectionsofthosewhoconsiderhisconceptionofthenovelstaticandold-fashioned.Hisfictionisunabashedlyaboutpeopleandideasratherthanlanguageandform.Moreover,hisapproachtohischaractersandtheirobessionsisaffirmativeratherthanironic.ForBellow,allquestionsoftruth,asheputitinaWritersatWorkinterview,neednotbe'overwhelminglyformidable,uncongenial,hostiletous.[...]Theremaybetruthsonthesideoflife.'Bellow'sfirsttwonovels,DanglingManandTheVictim,werepraisedbysuchcriticsasEdmundWilsonandDelmoreSchwartz,buttheycannowbeseenasveryaccomplishedapprenticework.Theywerewrittentoaformallycorrect,FlaubertianstandardthatBellow,asthesonofRussianJewsandanoutsiderinalargelyAnglo-Saxonliteraryestablishment,hadtofightfreeof.'WhyshouldIforcemyselftowritelikeanEnglishmanoracontributortotheNewYorker?'heexplainedinWritersatWork.'Isoonsawthatitwassimplynotinmetobeamandarin.'Inhisthirdnovel,however,Bellowovercametheformalconstraintsthathadinhibitedhimandwrotelikean'emancipatedplebian.'TheAdventuresofAugieMarchwas,ifanything,toouninhibited,butitannouncedanewliteraryvoiceandtherecognitionwasimmediate.AugieMarchisalong,vaguelypicaresquenovelthatrecountstheseeminglyunconnectedexperiencesofitseponymousheroinhisquestforself-understandingandaworthwhilelife.ItisperhapsmoreimportantnowforitsestablishmentofBellow'suniquestylisticblendofhighandlowthanforitsinvestigationofmodernconsciousness,whichhewouldhandlewithfarmorecomplexityinsubsequentnovels.YetmanycriticsagreedwithRobertPennWarren,whocalledit(intheNewRepublicin1953)'arich,various,fascinating,andimportantbook';itwasthefirstofthreeBellownovelstowintheNationalBookAward.(TheotherwinnerswereHerzogandMr.Sammler'sPlanet.)AsifinreactiontothesprawlingexuberanceofAugieMarch,Bellow'snextworkwasbrief,somber,andtightlyorganized.SeizetheDayconcernsonecalamitousdayinthelifeofTommyWilhelm,aforty-four-year-oldNewYorkerestrangedfromhisvindictivewifeandselfishfather,andwhoindesperationturnstothequackpsychologistDr.Tamkinforemotionalandfinancialsuccor.Wilhelmisweakandself-pitying,yetheisatirelessBellovianseekerofhigherthingswhoultimatelyearnsthereader'ssympathy;andTamkinisoneofBellow'smostmemorableeccentrics,atwo-bitfraudwhoseshamelessvulgaritycannotconcealacertainwisdomandintegrity.RichardChase,writinginCommentary,thoughtSeizetheDay'thebestsinglepieceBellowhaswritten,'anditisstillwidelyregardedasoneofhisthreeorfourmostimportantworks.Returningtoamoreovertlycomicmode,BellownextdescribedajourneytoAfricaundertakenbytheConnecticutmillionaireEugeneHendersoninanattempttoappeaseaninnervoicethatkeepscrying,'Iwant,Iwant,Iwant.'HendersontheRainKingisindeedaveryfunnynovelanditreceivedmuchcriticalpraise,butitnowseemsarelativelyminorworkbetweentwomajorones,SeizetheDayandthelong,discursive,relentlesslycerebralHerzog.MosesHerzogisamiddle-agedacademicwhoselifehascometoastandstill;hecan'tfinishhisbooks,hissecondmarriagehasjustcomeapart,hehasfailedevenasafather.Herzogattemptstoworkhimselfoutofhiscrisisbywritinglongletterstohimself,tohisex-wife,toNietzche,Heidegger,AdlaiStevenson,andGod.InfactHerzogneverarrivesatanysolutiontohisproblemsandhispersonalliferemainsashambles;butinresistingtheeasynegationsofvarious'realityinstructors'hedoesachieveakindofsanityandwholeness.Thelettersthemselvesareattheheartofthenovel.'Theyteemwithideas,'wrotePhilipRahvintheNewYorkHeraldTribuneBookWeek,'thusconvertingHerzog'spersonalcrisisintothemoreimpersonalcrisisofmodernthinking.'Ofthenovelasawholetherewaswidespreadagreementthatdespiteitsunevennessandairofcloisteredobsession,itwasabrilliantachievement.'Thisbook--Bellow'smostimpressivetodate--seemstosummariseandcontainallthequestions,theproblems,thefeelings,theplights,andtheaspirationsworkedoverinthepreviousnovels,anditfollowsthemouttotheirextremestreaches,'wroteTonyTanner.Duringthe1960sBellowhadbecomedisenchantedwiththeliberalestablishmentofwhichhehaduntilthenbeenapart,andhisnextnovel,Mr.Sammler'sPlanet,reflectedhisdisgustwiththeyouthculture,sexualexperimentation,racialtension,andurbanstrifeofthelatesixties.ArturSammler,anelderlyPolishJewlivingonManhattan'sUpperWestSide,isbuffetedbyblackpickpockets,studentrevolutionaries,andill-manneredyoungerrelations.ManyreviewersthoughtthatBellowhadcapturedthetenorofthetimeswithhisaccustomedintelligenceandinsight.Yetasapolemicalnovel,Mr.Sammler'sPlanetdidnotwearverywell.'Sammlerisastaticcharacter,thevoiceofoneofthedead,'wroteJohnJ.Clayton.Likeothercritics,ClaytonfeltthatBellowidentifiedfartoocloselywithhisembitteredprotagonist.InHumboldt'sGiftBellowdrewonhismemoriesofDelmoreSchwartz,thebrilliantpoetandcriticwhomhehadknownwellinNewYorkandPrincetoninthe1940sand1950s.SchwartzisreimaginedasVonHumboldtFleisher,'poet,thinker,problemdrinker,pill-taker,manofgenius,manicdepressive,intricateschemer,'andthenovelis,inpart,anexaminationoftheplaceofart(andtheartist)isarampantlycommercialandfrenziedtwentieth-centuryAmerica.Humboldt'sGifthassomeofBellow'shighestcomedyaswellashismostvividlyimaginedcharacters(notablytheBellow-likenarratorCharlieCitrineandtheminor-leaguegangsterRinaldoCantabile)anditwasseeninmostquartersasamajorwork.'Humboldt'sGift,'wroteRogerShattuckintheNewYorkReviewofBooks,'showsnoflaggingofBellow'sintelligenceandstylisticpowers.Hewriteslikeabirdplaning,sureofhisheight,sureofhiswings,sureofthelanguagetherebeneathhim,sustaininghisflightandastransparentasair.'In1976BellowwasawardedtheNobelPrizeforhis'exuberantideas,flashingirony,hilariouscomedy,andburningcompassion,'astheSwedishAcademy'scitationhadit.FollowingtheNobel,Bellow'swriting,somethought,wentintoatemporarydecline.Hisfirstnonfictionbook,thepoliticaltravelogueToJerusalemandBack,wasadmiredmoreforitsfluentprosethanforitsratherone-sidedanalysisofMiddle-Easternpolitics,andTheDean'sDecember,anovelaboutsocialdisintegrationinChicagoandBucharest,revealedmoreaboutBellow'soutrageoversocialconditionsthanitdidtheconditionsthemselves.Inthelate1970sandearly1980shisconservatismcameclosetohardeningintoreaction,andeventhemoresuccessfulsexualcomedyofMoreDieofHeartbreakexpressed,asAlfredKazinremarkedintheNewYorkReviewofBooks,'exultantlysourviewsofmodernity,sexuality,women,thelocalandinternationalscene.'However,theshortstorycollectionHimwithhisFootinHisMouthwasgreetedasastrongreturntoformandintherecentnovellasATheftandTheBellarosaConnectionBellowonceagaintookuptherelaxed,ruminativemodeofsomeofhisbestwork.Thelatter,astoryaboutamiddle-classJewishcouplewhoseattemptstothanktheirsecretbenefactorareconstantlythwarted,was,accordingtoDavidDenbyintheNewRepublic,'aclassicBellowstory.Therushofshortdeclarativesentences--thought-tormentedyetexuberant--produce[s]afamiliarexcitement.'DenbywasnotaloneinregardingitasfarmoresuccessfulthanATheftSaulBellowremained'aChicagoan,outandout.'HewasapartoftheNewYorkliterarylandscapeofthe1940sand1950sandhastaughtatPrinceton,NewYorkUniversity,BardCollege,andtheUniversityofMinnesota,butin1962hereturnedto***TheAdventuresofAugieMarch,whichappearedin1953,ispossiblyhismostexuberantandnostalgicbook.ManycommentatorshavepointedoutthatBellow'suseofChicagointheearlynovelsproceededfromhisself-consciousassociationwithH.G.Wells,whowroteofLondon;Joyce,whowroteofDublin;andArnoldBennet,whowroteabouthisFiveTowns.InitweseeBellow'sfirstopenrejectionofthemoderntradition.TheworldhadnotcometoanendasJoyceandLawrencepredicted.Thedisintegratingselfofearlymodernliteraturehadactuallysurvivedtwoworldwars,theHolocaust,thetechnologicalrevolution,andtheeffectsofmasssociety.Andeventhoughthetypicallymodernphenomenonofthealienatedhero,thewasteland,andtheabsurdworldcontinuetoappearintwentieth-centuryliteraturerightuptothepresentdecade,manywriters,ofwhomBellowwasnotablyoneofthefirst,beganasearlyas1940toquestionthevalidityofmodernistestimatesofmanandsociety.Writtenasacontemporarybildungsroman,andpicaresqueadventurechronicle,itisthecoming-of-agenovelofthelarkyAugieMarch.HereBellowhasprovidedaremarkableaccountofAugieandSimonMarchesfatherlessfamilycomprisedofhisrathergentleandwitlessmother,andadoptedGrandmaLausch,andherpoodle,Winnie.ItisessentiallytherecordofBellow'sownimmersioninanimmigrantChicagoneighborhooddoneinminuterealisticdetail.Thoughitnowseemssomewhatofasocialrealistperiodpiece,itisalively,boisterouscomedyaboutthedivergentpathstakenbythetwobrothersastheyrespondtotheCASPlegacyofentreprenurialAmerica.

Thisquestioning,beguntentativelyinTheDanglingManandTheVictim,becomesamajorthemeinallofthesubsequentnovelsthroughtoHumboldt'sGift(1975).ProbablyitcoincidedwiththetranslationofFrenchexistentialistfictionbyCamusandSartreinthePartisanReviewduringthe1940s.BeginningwithTheAdventuresofAugieMarch,Bellowdepictsaseriesofromanticheroes,menofsensibilityandoftenoflearning,whospendtheirbrieffictionallivesrejectingphilosophicalskepticismandcourtshipofthevoid.Therevisionistviewoftheworldthattherespectiveprotagonistsemergewithisadeepand,attimes,aquasi-mysticalaffirmationofthetranscendentvalueofselfandexistence.Alongwiththisistheirclearsenseofthesacrednessofthesocialcontract.

Thissprawlingandseeminglylightheartednovelabandonsthetightorganicstructuresofthemodernistnovelanditsphilosophicalgloominess.Usingaclassicpicaresqueformandhero,BellowdepictsAugieMarchasacontemplator,receiver,andopposerofactionintheworld.WritteninauniquelyidiomaticChicagoan-AmericanEnglish,thenoveldepictsanAmericanpicaro.ItwasconceivedandwritteninParisimmediatelyafterBellowhadabandonedworkona100,000-wordmanuscriptentitled"TheCrabandtheButterfly."BellowtoldinterviewerBruceCookheworkedhiswayoutofdepressionoverParisandthisfailedmanuscriptbytaking"afantasyholiday,"withthewritingofAugie'sstory.Bellow'scumulativecommentsonthegenesisofthisnovelrangeovertwenty-twoyearsandprovidecluestoitsexuberantanti-moderniststance.In1953hetoldHarveyBreit:"Itjustcametome....Thegreatpleasureofthebookwasthatitcameeasily.AllIhadtodowasbetherewithbucketstocatchit."TenyearslaterheexplainedtheunprecedentedcomicelementsinAugieMarchtoDavidGalloway:"Ihave,perhaps,aslave-likeconstitutionwhichistooeasilyrestrainedbybonds;itthenbecomesrebelliousandburstsoutinacomicrevolution."However,inthissameinterview,hedisclosedhisanxietyaboutconfrontingaWASPworldview,lettinggohisinhibitions,abandoninghisformerFlaubertianstandard,andmakingacasefortheRussianimmigrantexperienceanditslanguagehabits.Heexpresslydidnotwantittobeaproperbook.InsteadhewantedtodepictapicarojourneyingthroughthetransitionalworldofanAmericanimmigrantsocialhistorycoterminouswithhisownyouth.IntothemixturewentCervantesquechivalricallusion,mock-heroiccomparisonofancientandmodern-dayheroes,wackyhumor,personalfamilyhistory,classicallore,Dreiseriannaturalism,Whitmanesquecatalogues,Dickensiancaricature,Hogarthiancharacterportraits,thevernacularlanguageofstreet,bar,andpoolroom,Chicagoimmigrantaccents,eccentricphilosophicalessays,Bellovianhomily,andJewishwit.Theresultisanovelofmixedaccomplishments.Centraltothemoralissuesandthecaseforoptimismsetupinthenovelisthecomparisonbetweentwobrothers--Augietheoptimist,andSimonthecynicalmaterialist.Thisdialecticaljuxtapositionofpairsofbrothers,oralteregos,becomesahallmarkofBellow'sfiction.Thefascinatingassortmentofcharacterportraitsevokesafeelingthatarisesfromthemiddlegroundlyingexactlyhalfwaybetweenromanticidealismandexistentialistnihilism,amiddlegroundwhichbringsromance,comedy,andclassicalrealismintoconjunction.HereareallthelovinglyevokedscenesfromChicago,immigrantportraits--thewholeracialmixofthedepression-periodimmigrantpopulationofChicagowhomBellowoftencallsthemultitudesoftheHolyWrit.Thesearenottheusualalienated,urbanizedcitymassesoftheSartreannovel.Likewise,thereisthetranscendentalpremiseuponwhichthenovelisbased.WithHeraclitus,BellowandAugiebelievefatetobedeterminedbycharacter,notbybiologyorenvironment.Itisaflatdenialofhistoricism--theideathattwentieth-centurymenandwomenliveatthe"dwarf-endoftimes."Speakingin1973toJoyceIllig,BellowexplainedthesignificanceofChicagoinhisnovels:

Allofcivilizedmankindisenteringthispeculiarconditioninwhichwewerepioneers.That'swhyChicagoissignificant.Weexperienceditbeforetheothersdid.Weexperiencedthecontemporaryconditionbeforeotherswereawareofit....Chicagois,Ibelieve,thesymbolofit.InChicago,thingsweredoneforthefirsttime,whichtherestoftheworldlaterlearnedandimitated.Capitalistproductionwaspioneeredinthestockyards,inrefrigeratorcars,inthecreationofthePullman,inthecreationoffarmmachinery,andwithitalsocertainurbanpoliticalphenomenawhichareassociatedwiththenewconditionofmoderndemocracy.Allthathappenedhere.Ithappenedearly.

ARobinsonCrusoeandanAmericanAdam,Augierealizesultimatelythatevilistimelessanduniversalandhasnoparticularconnectionswiththepresentageoranyother.Farfrombeingavictim,heisabletousehiscapacityforoppositiontochooseresistance:

Ihaveafeeling...abouttheaxiallinesoflife,withrespecttowhichyoumustbestraightorelseyourexistenceismereclownery,hidingtragedy....latelyIhavefeltthesethrillinglinesagain.Whenthestrivingstops,theretheyareasagift....Truth,love,peace,bounty,usefulness,harmony!Andallnoiseandgrates,distortionandchatter,distraction,effort,andsuperfluity,passedofflikesomethingunreal.

UnlikeJosephandAsa,AugieMarchismuchlesstrappedinamasculineworld,moregenerousinhistrustinwomen,andgenerallylessmisanthropic.Bellow'sportraitsofmenandwomeninthistextevokefewerstereotypesthanineitherearlierorlaterworks,andincludesuchremarkableportraitsasthatofGrandmaLausch.Neitheristhesolutionofthecelibateretreatfromthefeminineeroticaspronouncedinthisbook.AugieisanewkindofAmericanherowhostilldemandsacertainkindoffreedom,butwhoinlatemiddle-ageashefinisheshiscomicheroicaccountofhimselfandhisageisstillinsearchofhisfate.

***IssuesaboutthenovelCharacters:TheAdventuresofAugieMarchisatriumphofcharacters.Dozensofmemorablefigurespeoplethissprawlingtale.Augiehimselfis,ofcourse,thelead.Larky,curious,experimental,free,heistheidealprotagonistforsuchalongpicaresquenovel.Hetouchesallsides.Becauseheisopentoallkindsofexperience,hecommunicatesapictureofmodernAmericaaswideanddiversealmostaslifeitself.Butheisalsointerestinginhisownright.Despitehisapparentpassivity,Augieholdshardtocertaindeepbeliefs.Heisonthesideoflifeandpeople;hewillnevergiveup.Socialconcerns:"IamanAmerican,Chicagoborn."ThefamousopeningwordsindicatethatTheAdventuresofAugieMarchisanoveldeeplyrootedinaparticularsocialcontext.Movingfromthe1920stothe1940s,ittouchesontheGreatDepression,thestarkcontrastbetweenrichandpoor,thestruggleoverunionization,andtheSecondWorldWar.Nevertheless,itbelongstoanAmericannovelistictraditionofindividualismandmutedsocialcommentary.Infact,muchofthetensioninthenoveldevelopsfromthestruggleoftheprotagonisttoresistsocialregimentation,toremain"inopposition."Theme:Thenoveldramatizesthestruggleoftheindividualwithsociety,with"reality-instructors"and,ultimately,withhimself.AugieMarchwants"afatethatisgoodenough";hewantstotouchallsidesandnotbecomeaspecialist.Yethowcantheindividualresisttheenormouspressuresoftwentieth-centuryAmerica,especiallywhenitoffersattractivetemptationstoconform?Augieencountersaseriesofpowerful"reality-instructors,"peoplewho"arealwaystryingtofithimintotheirschemes."Thesetemptersinclude"Grandma"Lausch,WilliamEinhorn,hisfriends,hislover,andhis...Technique:TheAdventuresofAugieMarchisapicaresquenarrative.Augiehimselfisa"picaro"or"rogue."Typicalofthegenre,thesubjectofTheAdventuresofAugieMarchbecomestheadventuresofafreedom-lovingrascalwholivesbyhiswitsandchangeslittlethroughthelongcourseofhisescapades.Likeotherpicaresquenarratives,TheAdventuresofAugieMarchisrealisticinmannerandepisodicinstructure.Afterhisfirsttwotightlyorganizednovels,Bellowletshimselfgo.Bellowalsoletshimselfgoinhiswritingstyle.Theproseisoriginal,exuberant,...Literaryprecedents:TheAdventuresofAugieMarchresemblesTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn(1884)andTheCatcherintheRye(1951)inseveralrespects,especiallyinitsdramatizationofafootlooseandinnocentrascalinconflictwithhisworld.ButthetwoearliernovelsaretighterinstructureandnarrowerinscopethanBellow'spicaresquenarrative.ThemorerelevantpredecessorisprobablytheepisodicAdventuresofTomSawyer.Still,Augieexhibitsanintelligence,erudition,andcontemplativenessthatmakehimaunique"picaro."***TheAdventuresofAugieMarchburstonthepostwarliteraryscenewiththeexuberanceofagreatAmericanauthorfindinghistruevoice.ThemostfreewheelingofBellow'sheroes,Augiepaintsafresh,gritty,comicviewoftheAmericanlandscapeandposesanewtheperennialquestions:Howdoyoureconcilefreedomandlove?Howdoyousimultaneouslyfindlibertyandhomeinachaoticworld?Bellowwasalreadyawell-knownauthorwhenhebeganwritinghisthirdnovel,buthisearlyworks,DanglingManandTheVictim,areverydifferentbooks,writteninaconstrained,naturalisticformthatheultimatelyrejectedastoolimiting.Theircentralcharacters,introspectiveintellectualstrappedinclaustrophobiccircumstances,arereminiscentofKafka'snarrators."Iwasafraidtoletmyselfgo,"Bellowsaysoftheseworks.Hediscardedthedraftsoftwoadditionalnovelsbecausehefeltthey,too,weretoobleak.Tiredofthe"solemnityofcomplaint,"theplaintivetoneheheardinthenovelsofhiscontemporariesandinhisownfirstbooks,BellowturnedtohisboyhoodhomeinChicagoforinspiration.ThechangeprovedimmenselyliberatingandgaverisetothecolorfulcastofAugieMarch:GrandmaLausch,Einhorn,FiveProperties,Dingbat,andmanyothers,allofwhomwererootedintheHumboldtParkneighborhoodofBellow'syouth.Augie,apoorbutspiritedboygrowingupinInonesenseAugieisacharacteristicBellowhero,ayoungmanwithanironicsenseoftheworld,waryoftakingdirectactionbutcertainthathebelongstoagreaterdestiny.LikeBellow'sothercentralcharacters,heisintentonfindinga"goodenoughfate"eagertowritehisownpartonlife'sstageyetstubbornlyresistanttothelimitsimposedbyanyscriptedrole.ButheisalsodramaticallydifferentfromthebroodingthinkersofBellow'searlyworks.Augieisplayful,subversive,adventurous,andeveroptimistic.HeisanewAmericanAdam,innocentlypoisedforafuturefullofpromiseinalandfullofpossibilities.Noprofession,nolover,nocommitmentcancapturehim.Heriskshisjobasabookthiefbecausehecan'tresistthedesiretokeepandreadthebookshehasstolen.Althoughthisveryadaptability,thislackoffirmobligationsmakeshimhardtocharacterizeordefine,hisfirst-personnarrativeconveysacompellingvisionofAmericanfreedom,afreshspiritofirresistiblecharm.WhileAugie'scharacterremainsprotean,theworldheinhabitsispaintedwithmagnificentdetailandtexture.Infusedwiththevivid,hyperbolicYiddishofhischildhood,Bellow'snarrativerevelsinthemelodramaticpeopleandlanguageof1920sChicago.AsBellowsaid:"ThemostordinaryYiddishconversationisfullofthegrandesthistorical,mythological,andreligiousallusions.TheCreation,thefall,theflood,Egypt,Alexander,Titus,Napoleon,theRothschilds,theSages,andtheLawsmaygetintothediscussionofanegg,aclothes-line,orapairofpants."ThelanguageofAugieMarchislikewiserifewithheroicallusions,castingamythicglowonAugie'ssmallestmove.Augie'sthoughtsabouthisjobasalabororganizerinvokeJohntheBaptist,StonewallJackson,theTowerofBabel,andGhandi'sPraiseforBellow'sebullientnewstylewasenthusiastic,ifnotunanimous,andhewontheNationalBookAwardin1953.AugieMarchwascomparedtoUlyssesanddescribedas"ahowlinglyAmericanbook."Supportersandcriticsalikerecognizedinhimapowerfulvoice,avisionofAmericathatcouldnotbeignored.Thebookbrought"anewsenseoflaughter,"wroteAlfredKazin."InAugie,Bellow...discoveredhimselfequaltotheexcitementoftheAmericanexperience,heshookhimselfalloverandlethimselfgo."UltimatelyAugie'svisionfindsatamer,morematureexpressioninHerzog,Bellow'smasterwork.ButAugieMarchholdsauniqueplaceforitsrev-olutionaryjoyandexuberance.Thisrollickingtaleofmodern-dayheroismisnotonlyaportraitofdeterminationandsurvival,butalsoakeenlyobserveddramaofoneman's"refusaltoleadadisappointedlife."

ABOUTSAULBELLOWPraisedforhisvision,hisearfordetail,hishumor,andthemasterfulartistryofhisprose,SaulBellowwasbornofRussianJewishparentsinLachine,Quebecin1915,andwasraisedinChicago.HereceivedhisBachelor'sdegreefromNorthwesternHisfirsttwonovels,DanglingMan(1944)andTheVictim(1947)arepenetrating,Kafka-likepsychologicalstudies.In1948hewasawardedaGuggenheimFellowshipandspenttwoyearsinParisandtravelinginEurope,wherehebeganhispicaresquenovelTheAdventuresofAugieMarch.AugieMarchwentontowintheNationalBookAwardforfictionin1954.HislaterbooksoffictionincludeSeizetheDay(1956);HendersontheRainKing(1959);Mosby'sMemoirsandOtherStories(1968);Mr.Sammler'sPlanet(1970);Humboldt'sGift(1975),whichwonthePulitzerPrize;TheDean'sDecember(1982);MoreDieofHeartbreak(1987);Theft(1988);TheBellarosaConnection(1989);TheActual(1996);and,mostrecently,Ravelstein(2000).Bellowhasalsoproducedaprolificamountofnon-fiction,collectedinToJerusalemandBack,apersonalandliteraryrecordofhissojourninIsraelduringseveralmonthsin1975,andItAllAddsUp,acollectionofmemoirsandessays.Bellow'smanyawardsincludetheInternationalLiteraryPrizeforHerzog,forwhichhebecamethefirstAmericantoreceivetheprize;theCroixdeChevalierdesArtsetL