A fresh and approachable critical biography of the twentieth-century Anglo-American writer.
Christopher Isherwood wrote modernist novels before he evolved into a pioneer of autofiction; his novel Goodbye to Berlin inspired the hit musical Cabaret. Everything changed when Isherwood emigrated to America in 1939. His newfound pacifism and studies as a Hindu monk led to new kinds of novels, including A Single Man, that reflected his evolving spiritual interests and blazed a trail for the gay liberation movement. In this new biography, Jake Poller takes a holistic approach to Isherwood, exploring his life and writing as well as the impact of Vedanta philosophy on Isherwoods work. This book offers a concise yet thorough account of a monumental figure.
Recenzijas
This is the Christopher Isherwood biography we have been missing: informative, readable, and concise. Jake Poller covers both Isherwoods monumental life and his considerable work without producing a doorstop. Poller understands and appreciates both the English and the American Isherwood. He provides enough analysis of the major works to inspire readers to go to (or go back to) the source, without overwhelming them or imposing his interpretation on the audience. Poller provides fresh insight without being dogmatic, offering alternate readings of events and works. This is a book Isherwood fans will learn from and enjoy reading. * James J. Berg, editor of Isherwood on Writing *
Abbreviations
Introduction:
Autofiction
1 The Poshocracy, 190425
2 Tea-Tabling, 192530
3 The Lost, 19317
4 Ivar Avenue, 193844
5 Samsara, 194553
6 Kitty and Dobbin,
195464
7 Life Writing,
196580
Epilogue
References
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Jake Poller teaches in the English department at Queen Mary University of London. His books include Aldous Huxley (Reaktion, 2021).