Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
PENGUIN BOOKS LTD (1991), Paperback, 240 pages
Description
These two novellas demonstrate the fragility of the American dream, from two very different perspectives. In The Day of the Locust, talented young artist Tod Hackett has been brought to Hollywood to work in the design department of a major studio. He discovers a surreal world of tarnished dreams, where violence and hysteria lurk behind even the most glittering facade. Liberty and freedom have been turned into a bizarre nightmare in The Dream Life of Balso Snell, which focuses on the personal despair and disintegration of its protagonist, the poet Balso. 'The Day of the Locust... remains the best of the Hollywood novels, a nightmare vision of humanity destroyed by its obsession with film.' J. G. Ballard, Sunday Times
User reviews
LibraryThing member DELITT
Brilliant novel. Feels very ahead of its time. Weird atmosphere, bizarre characters, and random outbursts of anger and violence create a creepy, uneasy masterpiece.
LibraryThing member JohnPhelan
The three stars are all for The Day of the Locust, which is good if obvious. The Dream Life of Balso Snell is poor.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
240 p.; 7.64 inches
ISBN
0140184805 / 9780140184808