Homer & Langley - Hardcover

Doctorow, E. L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1400064945 ISBN 13: 9781400064946

Publisher: Random House Inc, 2009

Synopsis

A tale inspired by a true story finds the blind Homer Collyer closeted within a once-grand Fifth Avenue mansion with his damaged brother and remembering a life marked by colorful characters, political events, and technological achievements. By the National Book Award-winning author of Billy Bathgate.

About this title

Product Description:

Rare Book

Review:

“Cunningly panoramic...Doctorow has packed this tale with episodes of existential wonder that cpature the brothers in all their fascinating wackiness.” —Elle
“Doctorow paints on a sweeping historical canvas, imagining the Collyer brothers as witness to the aspirations and transgressions of 20th century America; yet this book’s most powerfully moving moments are the quiet ones, when the brothers relish a breath of cool morning air, and each other’s tragically exclusive company.” — O Magazine
“Doctorow works his usual magic in bringing history to life and larding it with disturbing implications...As with much of Doctorow’s masterful fiction, "Homer & Langley" turns the American dream on its ear, offering us a glimpse of the dark side of our national–and personal–eccentricities.” — BookPage
“Following the panoramic scope of "The March," Doctorow creates a microcosmic and mythi

Cunningly panoramic Doctorow has packed this tale with episodes of existential wonder that cpature the brothers in all their fascinating wackiness. Elle
Doctorow paints on a sweeping historical canvas, imagining the Collyer brothers as witness to the aspirations and transgressions of 20th century America; yet this book s most powerfully moving moments are the quiet ones, when the brothers relish a breath of cool morning air, and each other s tragically exclusive company. O Magazine
Doctorow works his usual magic in bringing history to life and larding it with disturbing implications As with much of Doctorow s masterful fiction, Homer & Langley turns the American dream on its ear, offering us a glimpse of the dark side of our national and personal eccentricities. BookPage
Following the panoramic scope of The March, Doctorow creates a microcosmic and mythic tale of compulsion, alienation, and dark metamorphosis inspired by the famously eccentric Collyer brothers of New York City Doctorow has Homer, who is blind, narrate with deadpan humor and spellbinding precision Over the decades, people come and go lovers, a gangster, a jazz musician, a flock of hippies, but finally Homer and Langley are irrevocably alone, prisoners in their fortress of rubbish, trapped in their warped form of brotherly love. Wizardly Doctorow presents an ingenious, haunting odyssey that unfolds within a labyrinth built out of the detritus of war and excess.
- Booklist starred review -
A sweeping masterpiece about the infamous New York hermits, the Collyer brothers . Occasionally, outsiders wander through the house, exposing it as a living museum of artifacts, Americana, obscurity and simmering madness. Doctorow s achievement is in not undermining the dignity of two brothers who share a lush landscape built on imagination and incapacities. It s a feat of distillation, vision and sympathy.
- Publishers Weekly starred review -

From the Hardcover edition."

"Cunningly panoramic...Doctorow has packed this tale with episodes of existential wonder that cpature the brothers in all their fascinating wackiness." --Elle

"Doctorow paints on a sweeping historical canvas, imagining the Collyer brothers as witness to the aspirations and transgressions of 20th century America; yet this book's most powerfully moving moments are the quiet ones, when the brothers relish a breath of cool morning air, and each other's tragically exclusive company." -- O Magazine

"Doctorow works his usual magic in bringing history to life and larding it with disturbing implications...As with much of Doctorow's masterful fiction, Homer & Langley turns the American dream on its ear, offering us a glimpse of the dark side of our national-and personal-eccentricities." -- BookPage

"Following the panoramic scope of The March, Doctorow creates a microcosmic and mythic tale of compulsion, alienation, and dark metamorphosis inspired by the famously eccentric Collyer brothers of New York City... Doctorow has Homer, who is blind, narrate with deadpan humor and spellbinding precision...Over the decades, people come and go-lovers, a gangster, a jazz musician, a flock of hippies, but finally Homer and Langley are irrevocably alone, prisoners in their fortress of rubbish, trapped in their warped form of brotherly love. Wizardly Doctorow presents an ingenious, haunting odyssey that unfolds within a labyrinth built out of the detritus of war and excess."
-Booklist starred review

"A sweeping masterpiece about the infamous New York hermits, the Collyer brothers.... Occasionally, outsiders wander through the house, exposing it as a living museum of artifacts, Americana, obscurity and simmering madness. Doctorow's achievement is in not undermining the dignity of two brothers who share a lush landscape built on imagination and incapacities. It's a feat of distillation, vision and sympathy."
-Publishers Weekly starred review

From the Hardcover edition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Inc
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1400064945
• ISBN 13: 9781400064946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208