Itemize Books To The New Confessions
| Original Title: | The New Confessions |
| ISBN: | 0375705031 (ISBN13: 9780375705038) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Oonagh, John James Todd, Karl-Heinz Kornfeld, Donald Verulam, Hamish Malahide, Doon Bogan |
| Setting: | Berlin(Germany) Edinburgh, Scotland Hollywood, California(United States) …more England …less |
William Boyd
Paperback | Pages: 480 pages Rating: 4.1 | 2275 Users | 142 Reviews
Narrative Conducive To Books The New Confessions
In this extraordinary novel, William Boyd presents the autobiography of John James Todd, whose uncanny and exhilarating life as one of the most unappreciated geniuses of the twentieth century is equal parts Laurence Stern, Charles Dickens, Robertson Davies, and Saul Bellow, and a hundred percent William Boyd.From his birth in 1899, Todd was doomed. Emerging from his angst-filled childhood, he rushes into the throes of the twentieth century on the Western Front during the Great War, and quickly changes his role on the battlefield from cannon fodder to cameraman. When he becomes a prisoner of war, he discovers Rousseau's Confessions, and dedicates his life to bringing the memoir to the silver screen. Plagued by bad luck and blind ambition, Todd becomes a celebrated London upstart, a Weimar luminary, and finally a disgruntled director of cowboy movies and the eleventh member of the Hollywood Ten. Ambitious and entertaining, Boyd has invented a most irresistible hero.
Mention Epithetical Books The New Confessions
| Title | : | The New Confessions |
| Author | : | William Boyd |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 480 pages |
| Published | : | October 10th 2000 by Vintage (first published September 28th 1987) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Historical. Historical Fiction. Cultural. Scotland |
Rating Epithetical Books The New Confessions
Ratings: 4.1 From 2275 Users | 142 ReviewsArticle Epithetical Books The New Confessions
The New Confessions is a long and tortuous journey through life and art and the novel is remarkably innovative. It is the most ambitious and intellectual book by William Boyd and unarguably his best.Rumors began to spread through the industry about the film, its revolutionary techniques, of a scale and size matched only by the ambition of its director. I suppose early 1929 saw me at the very apex of my fame. Impressive achievements behind me, limitless potential ahead. I was feted, courted,A 20th Century Masterpiece. So utterly convincing at times you wonder if it's all true! William Boyd seems equally at home depicting scenes of domestic drudgery or the glamourous life of the artist in pre-war Berlin. Pathos, farce, tragedy, it's all here. there are some brilliant passages describing life in the trenches of the First World War evoking the horror, boredom, futility and heroism of life on the Western Front. Equally well written are the laugh out loud sections.The book is written in
William Boyd brings to life the turbulence of both world wars and the red scare in this novel through the eyes of a creative and narcissistic filmmaker who never gets recognized as the genuis he is. It took me quite a while to really like this book. The main character, John James Todd, is so flawed. But eventually I developed empathy for him and wanted to see how his life would play out. I really enjoy Boyd's writing. His method of developing a story through the eyes of an unlikable or flawed
A brilliant book! It tells the story of John James Todd from WW1 through to 1972. It covers his full and remarkable life in Berlin and Hollywood. Then Mccarthyism - which I hadn't read much about, so was particularly interested in that part. His romances, marriages (mostly failed) were also covered. It was one of those books that I was sad when I reached the end!
A fascinating story of one man's uncertain journey through life.
This is a marvelous novel, in its writing and its plot development. However, the last 50 pages are nasty. Lots of random low-key WWII-era racism and a strange interpretation of the McCarthy witch hunts all "in the guise of humor", but I cannot forgive. Unfortunately it pretty much ruined my experience with what was one of the best things I've ever read. It still is, and highly inspiring, but my God. I will never forget it, for better and for worse.
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