Nathanael West Livres

Nathanael West's works capture the complex and often absurd realities of American life, showcasing a blend of humor and horror. "A Cool Million" is a satirical take on the classic Horatio Alger narrative, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. In contrast, "The Dream Life of Balso Snell" presents a surreal journey filled with bizarre escapades within the Trojan horse, highlighting West's unique storytelling style and imaginative themes. Both works reflect his sharp critique of society during turbulent times.

As described by Atkinson in the NY Times: "A scornful feature editor of a newspaper picks an ambitious young reporter to conduct the advice of the lovelorn column. Ambitious, opportunistic, 'Miss Lonelyhearts,' as the conductor of the column is inevitably dubbed, begins with contempt of the correspondents and confidence in his own cleverness. As time goes on, the genuineness of the agony in the letters that come in gets under the skin of the columnist. He is distressed to find himself presiding over a monstrous swindle. For he is an idealist in collision with humanity, as his diabolical managing editor expresses it."

This is a collection of West`s novels - "The Dream Life of Balso Snell", "Miss Lonely-hearts, "A Cool Million" and "The Day of the Locust"

Praised by great writers from Flannery O'Conner to Jonathan Lethem, 'Miss Lonelyhearts' is an American classic. A newspaper reporter assigned to write the agony column in the depths of the Great Depression seeks respite from the poor souls who send in their sad letters, only to be further tormented by his viciously cynical editor, Shrike.

"Miss Lonelyhearts -- compared by Flannery O'Connor to Faulkner's As I Lay Dying -- is about a newspaper reporter assigned to write the agony column, but, caught up in a vision of suffering, he seeks a way out (through art, sex, religion), only to be rebuffed at every turn by his cynical editor Shrike. The Day of the Locust -- considered by many to be the best novel ever written about Hollywood -- is about Tod Hackett, who hopes for a career in set design only to discover the boredom and emptiness of Hollywood's inhabitants. In the end, only blood will serve. The day of the locust is at hand ..."--Publisher's website

'He began to wonder if he himself didn't suffer from the ingrained, morbid apathy he liked to draw in others' Tod Hackett is a brilliant young artist - and a man in danger of losing his heart. Brought to an LA studio as a set- designer, he is soon caught up in a fantasy world where the cult of celebrity rules. But when he becomes besotted by the beautiful Faye, an aspiring actress and occasional call-girl, his dream rapidly becomes a nightmare. For, with little in the way of looks and no money to buy her time, Tod's desperate passion can only lead to frustration, disillusionment and rage ... The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War.

Tod Hackett is a brilliant young artist - and a man in danger of losing his heart. Brought to an LA studio as a set-designer, he is soon caught up in a fantasy world where the cult of celebrity rules. But when he becomes besotted by the beautiful Faye, an aspiring actress and occasional call-girl, his dream rapidly becomes a nightmare. schovat popis

The four novels gathered here, Miss Lonelyhearts, A Cool Million, The Day of the Locust and The Dream Life of Balso Snell, constitute the complete longer works of one the most brilliant and original American writers.

"In The Day of the Locust a young artist, Tod Hackett, arrives in LA full of dreams. But celebrity and artifice rule and he soon joins the ranks of the disenchanted that drift around the fringes of Hollywood. When he meets Faye Greener, an aspiring actress, he is intoxicated and his desperate passion explodes into rage... The edition also includes the off-kilter, darkly comic tale Miss Lonelyhearts"--page [4] of cover.

Following the tale of Tod Hackett - a brilliant young artist who is brought to an LA studio as a set designer - 'The Day of the Locust' is an exposure of the sordid reality beneath the surface of Hollywood.