Anthony Adverse (Henry Holt Classics Library)

Rating:
Summary: A History of the Times of my Forefathers
Review: Every now and then, when I get bored with the so called literature coming from the computers of men and women today I go back to old standbys to read again well written works by authentic writers of literature. Even though at times there are chapters that can bog you down by today's standards because we have become so impatient with the need for short sentences and shorter still chapters to keep the attention of today's market, it is worth the read to stay with the writer of Anthony Adverse. Some may find it ponderous reading, but I savor the descriptions, the emotions of the times. I happen to like long sentences. I'm not in a hurry for it to end.
Each time I re-read it, I realize how lacking we are these days for really fine literature. Each time I read bits of the author's philosophy I realize how lacking we are today for fine minds that have not been broken down for the need of sound bites to express themselves for fear of losing the audience. Can we produce in our colleges today anyone that can complete sentence when in a discussion, or anyone that has any knowledge of history other than contemporaray history of the past 20 yrs. Can we produce anyone that hasn't resorted to plagarism, even some of our own so called historians?

Why I like Anthony Adverse -- it feeds my hungry heart and mind.
He also writes of the century when my forefathers came to this country to settle in Virginia.

The first time I heard of Anthony Adverse was when I was a teenager and saw the movie with Frederic March in the 1940's. Later, I found an old copy at a library book sale -- I have three old paper backs -- and now I'm going to get a hard copy and put it on the shelf with my old Sir Walter Scot's books and Hawthorne and Thomas Harvey.

Now if I can only find out who Hervey Allen was and if he ever wrote anything after Anthony Adverse.

Rating:
Summary: Quite a chore to read, but...
Review: The book is of course too long, and there are stretches where it is dull, but there are many stretches herein with considerable interest. The Cloister and the Hearth, to which it has been compared, is a much better book. The same is true of The Three Musketeers. But the first part of the book is quite good, and the historical part involving Napoleon has its moments. But in general when Anthony gets to the USA the book becomes of less interest. The ending is long drawn out, and one reads just to see how it will come out. Hard to believe the book was the no. 1 bestseller in fiction in both 1933 and 1934. I wonder if anyone has ever read it twice. I certainly won't.

Rating:
Summary: Very Descriptive and Involved; A Little-Known Treasure
Review: When I was an early teenager, I went on a reading binge, and intentionally sought out very long books to read (I guess I saw them as challenges). I found many good books this way ("The Count of Monte Cristo", "Doctor Doolittle", "Gulliver's Travels"), as well as some clunkers. The treasures I found were generally well-known classics, but "Anthony Adverse" was one of the little-known treasures I stumbled upon. This is the fictional biography of a boy who grows up poor and nearly homeless at times, and ends up a complicated, mostly successful man. Along the way, he faces many challenges and many issues common to adolescents, even though the story takes place long ago. The writing is highly detailed, giving the reader the sense of having been to the places described and having actually known the characters. It's the same sense that one gets from seeing a very good film: a visual memory is created of the people and places. This book is not for everyone, but is an excellent one for introspective adults and bright teenagers. Patience is required, though, as it is long.