Jailbird : a novel - Hardcover

Vonnegut, Kurt

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0440054494 ISBN 13: 9780440054498

Publisher: Delacorte Press/Seymour Lawrence, 1979

Synopsis

Vonnegut, Kurt. Jailbird. A Novel. First Edition. New York, Delacorte Press/ Seymour Lawrence, 1979. Octavo. XXXVIII, 246 pages. Original Hardcover with illustrated dustjacket in protective Mylar. Fine condition. Jailbird is a novel by Kurt Vonnegut, originally published in 1979; it has come to be known as his Watergate novel. The plot involves elements ranging from labor movement of the early 20th century to the Nixon Whitehouse, and revolves around Walter F. Starbuck, a man recently released from a low security prison after having served time for a minor role in the Watergate scandal. It is written in a standard memoir format, revealing Starbuck's current situation, then going back to tell the story of his first two days after being released from prison. Through Walter F. Starbuck and near-rambling biographical sketches of the various characters referenced in the novel, Jailbird concerns itself with the history of the American labor movement, while also pointing out flaws in corporate America, the American political system, the American Red Scare of the late 1950s, and both capitalist and communist theory. This novel introduces Vonnegut's fictitious megacorporation, RAMJAC, which he says owned 19% of all business in the United States at its peak. Throughout the novel, whenever a business is mentioned, Vonnegut frequently mentions RAMJAC in a parenthetical comment, such as Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company (A RAMJAC Corporation). RAMJAC may have been Vonnegut's response to megacorporation television ads common around the time of the novel's publication, in which they would detail the many familiar brand names under their corporate wing. Jailbird also features a brief appearance of Kilgore Trout, a recurring Vonnegut character who writes science fiction novels and stories. However in this appearance, Kilgore Trout is revealed to be the pseudonym of a character in prison, deliberately contradicting the..

About this title

Review:

“He has never been more satirically on-target. . . . Nothing is spared.”—"People"
“[Vonnegut] is our strongest writer . . . the most stubbornly imaginative.”—John Irving
 
“A gem . . . a mature, imaginative novel—possibly the best he has written . . . "Jailbird" is a guided tour de force of America. Take it!”—"Playboy"

He has never been more satirically on-target. . . . Nothing is spared. "People"
[Vonnegut] is our strongest writer . . . the most stubbornly imaginative. John Irving
A gem . . . a mature, imaginative novel possibly the best he has written . . . "Jailbird" is a guided tour de force of America. Take it! "Playboy""

-He has never been more satirically on-target. . . . Nothing is spared.---People
-[Vonnegut] is our strongest writer . . . the most stubbornly imaginative.---John Irving
-A gem . . . a mature, imaginative novel--possibly the best he has written . . . Jailbird is a guided tour de force of America. Take it!---Playboy

"He has never been more satirically on-target. . . . Nothing is spared."--People

"[Vonnegut] is our strongest writer . . . the most stubbornly imaginative."--John Irving

"A gem . . . a mature, imaginative novel--possibly the best he has written . . . Jailbird is a guided tour de force of America. Take it!"--Playboy

Book Description:

Jailbird is Vonnegut's riotous urban fairytale about the various fiascos of the Nixon years

About this edition

• Publisher: Delacorte Press/Seymour Lawrence
• Publication date: 1979
• ISBN 10: 0440054494
• ISBN 13: 9780440054498
• Binding: Hardcover