Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Dover Publications, Inc.
Pages
237
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML: This epic tale recounts the triumphs and tribulations of an upper-class American clan as they navigate the challenges of life in the aftermath of the Civil War and the birth of the Industrial Revolution. The basis for Orson Welles' renowned 1942 film of the same name, this richly detailed novel is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction..
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1918
Physical description
237 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0486449335 / 9780486449333
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Joycepa
Pulizter Prize winner, 1919.
This is the story of the fall from social prominence of a “Midland” family around the turn of the 20th century. Due to the financial success through land and investments of Major Amberson, the patriarch of the family, the Ambersons achieved social prominence in one
But coming along to upset almost everyone’s ideas of society and progress is the automobile, its disruptive force personified of one of its (fictional) pioneers, Eugene Morgan. A former resident of the town as well as a former suitor of George’s mother, Isabel, Morgan invokes uneasiness in George, who proceeds to fall in love with Morgan’s daughter, Lucy.. That uneasiness turns to hatred when George’s is unaccustomedly denied something he wants and has his superficial values of life rejected. The result is tragic.
The automobile, however, is more than just an irritant for George, an unacceptable way for Morgan to make a living. It represents enormous economic and social upheaval, as wealth shifts from the American equivalent of the landed gentry to the new industrialists and speculators. The mobility provided by the automobile drastically alters the landscapes of urban areas; the Midland town—a mall puddle in which the Ambersons are large frogs—becomes a large city, whose growth in unchecked, leaving the Ambersons and their old-fashioned ideas of society behind; the Ambersons literally vanish in the sprawl of a large industrialized city.
In 1919, when Tarkington wrote the book, there was nothing remotely approaching an “environmental movement”. Yet Tarkington, in vivid prose, describes the price of the automobile and the resulting unrestricted growth, both in cities and in industry: soot-filled air from soft coal-fired furnaces of factories; disappearance of farm land as the city “upheaves” and moves its boundaries further and further out; the disintegration of the old pioneer values that had held sway for nearly 100 years only to be replaced by those of untrammeled greed; the destruction of neighborhoods as families are displaced by apartment dwellers and those living next to one another hardly ever meet. The Magnificent Ambersons is prophetic.
These forces destroy George’s world, so affectionately described at the opening of the book. But Tarkington doesn’t lay the blame solely on outside forces; instead, he makes very clear the negative impact of a doting mother and grandfather, who give George everything he wants and treat him like a god, an indifferent father who cares only for his business, and a group of fawning companions and similarly afflicted spoiled colleagues at university. George is not a bad person, but his self-absorption, his mania about preserving the “family name” as a reflection off his own self-important social status, is a recipe for disaster for those closest to him. The language may seem stilted, more suited to the post-Victorian era which it portrays (the story ends before the start of World War I), but the story is immortal; it can be seen played out in today’s media by the society celebrities of this age.
The Magnificent Ambersons is a morality tale with obvious lessons. George, a sinner, is suitably punished but earns redemption. While the language of the Victorian Age may present a bit of a problem and personal behavior may stretch the credulity of an early 21st century reader, the story is told poignantly, with great clarity, and to enormous effect.
This is the story of the fall from social prominence of a “Midland” family around the turn of the 20th century. Due to the financial success through land and investments of Major Amberson, the patriarch of the family, the Ambersons achieved social prominence in one
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generation. The story is primarily concerned with the abrupt decline of that family in the 3rd generation, as experienced by Major Amberson’s only grandchild, George Amberson Minafer. An arrogant and self-absorbed child who keeps those less-than-endearing personality traits into adulthood, George is the embodiment of the selfish, narcissistic “dandy”; his life goal is not “to do”—any sort of work or profession is beneath him and his self-perceived status—but “to be”—a gentleman.But coming along to upset almost everyone’s ideas of society and progress is the automobile, its disruptive force personified of one of its (fictional) pioneers, Eugene Morgan. A former resident of the town as well as a former suitor of George’s mother, Isabel, Morgan invokes uneasiness in George, who proceeds to fall in love with Morgan’s daughter, Lucy.. That uneasiness turns to hatred when George’s is unaccustomedly denied something he wants and has his superficial values of life rejected. The result is tragic.
The automobile, however, is more than just an irritant for George, an unacceptable way for Morgan to make a living. It represents enormous economic and social upheaval, as wealth shifts from the American equivalent of the landed gentry to the new industrialists and speculators. The mobility provided by the automobile drastically alters the landscapes of urban areas; the Midland town—a mall puddle in which the Ambersons are large frogs—becomes a large city, whose growth in unchecked, leaving the Ambersons and their old-fashioned ideas of society behind; the Ambersons literally vanish in the sprawl of a large industrialized city.
In 1919, when Tarkington wrote the book, there was nothing remotely approaching an “environmental movement”. Yet Tarkington, in vivid prose, describes the price of the automobile and the resulting unrestricted growth, both in cities and in industry: soot-filled air from soft coal-fired furnaces of factories; disappearance of farm land as the city “upheaves” and moves its boundaries further and further out; the disintegration of the old pioneer values that had held sway for nearly 100 years only to be replaced by those of untrammeled greed; the destruction of neighborhoods as families are displaced by apartment dwellers and those living next to one another hardly ever meet. The Magnificent Ambersons is prophetic.
These forces destroy George’s world, so affectionately described at the opening of the book. But Tarkington doesn’t lay the blame solely on outside forces; instead, he makes very clear the negative impact of a doting mother and grandfather, who give George everything he wants and treat him like a god, an indifferent father who cares only for his business, and a group of fawning companions and similarly afflicted spoiled colleagues at university. George is not a bad person, but his self-absorption, his mania about preserving the “family name” as a reflection off his own self-important social status, is a recipe for disaster for those closest to him. The language may seem stilted, more suited to the post-Victorian era which it portrays (the story ends before the start of World War I), but the story is immortal; it can be seen played out in today’s media by the society celebrities of this age.
The Magnificent Ambersons is a morality tale with obvious lessons. George, a sinner, is suitably punished but earns redemption. While the language of the Victorian Age may present a bit of a problem and personal behavior may stretch the credulity of an early 21st century reader, the story is told poignantly, with great clarity, and to enormous effect.
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LibraryThing member Kelberts
This story is illustrative of the demise of the Victorian era from economic and social standpoints. Although the reader feels some wistfulness and nostalgia for times of elegance and propriety, the Ambersons, who symbolize these things, are hardly sympathetic characters and their blind devotion to
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this way of life makes them seem almost silly. The novel does have a compelling plot and redemption at the conclusion. Yes, it's written in flowery style, perhaps indicative of the time, but it is includes effective imagery and humor. It's a well-rounded piece of literature and worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kristelh
Reason Read: Pulitzer winner, this was the winner of the Pulitzer in 1919. The story is about the time period after the civil war and the start of the 20th century. Industrialization is changing life and old money is being replaced by the "new money". The Ambersons are old money and the new money
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is Eugene Morgan. The contrast of horses and automobiles. The grandson is a spoiled arrogant individual who would rather be somebody than do something. This book may be set in the early years of the 20th century but it is easily applicable today. Show Less
LibraryThing member briantomlin
The Magnificient Ambersons by Booth Tarkington. Winner of the 1919 Pulitzer Prize for Literature. An engaging book, despite at several points wanting it to move along faster. The first half of the book is well constructed, and interesting because the central character is not presented as a likable
Also, the book is a bit melodramatic, the tragedies a bit too constructed. But I did enjoy it. I see why it won the Pulitzer: it is an American story. This could take place in almost any American city of the period; I seemed to reference St. Louis but it could have been in a dozen different places.
The romance between Georgie and Lucy seemed real, probably the most real part of the book.
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fellow. Foreshadowing and hiding of the mother's relationship with Morgan is transparent and yet it isn't clear how intended this was. The climax of the book is understandable on a human level, but was probably more compelling to readers in 1918. The last part of the book-- destruction of the family, chemical worker, run over by a car, psychic-- all seem too much for believeability today.Also, the book is a bit melodramatic, the tragedies a bit too constructed. But I did enjoy it. I see why it won the Pulitzer: it is an American story. This could take place in almost any American city of the period; I seemed to reference St. Louis but it could have been in a dozen different places.
The romance between Georgie and Lucy seemed real, probably the most real part of the book.
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LibraryThing member mydomino1978
I was dreading this book, but it was next on my Pulitzer list. I had forgotton how much I like Booth Tarkington. The book was engaging, and you came to like its very unlikable protagonist, and to regret the sad twist at the end.
LibraryThing member louisville
Set in the Midwest in the early twentieth century the novel begins by introducing the richest family in town, the Ambersons. They have everything money can buy. But George Amberson Minafer, the spoiled grandson of the family patriarch, is unable to see that great changes are taking place. Business
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tycoons, industrialists, and real estate developers are beginning to surpass him in wealth and prestige. Rather than join the new mechanical age, George prefers to remain a gentleman. But as his town becomes a city George’s protectors disappear one by one, and the elegant, cloistered lifestyle of the Ambersons fades from view, and finally vanishes altogether. This book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1919. Show Less
LibraryThing member RoseCityReader
The Magnificent Ambersons is one of those books that I enjoyed more than I thought I would. I was afraid it was going to be heavy and dull, and it certainly wasn't. Still, it was not a favorite of mine.
It moved right along through the story of the demise of the once-prominent Amberson family and
It moved right along through the story of the demise of the once-prominent Amberson family and
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the growth of their Midwestern town into an industrial city. However, it moved along at such a clip, and with so little thematic subtlety, that it seemed like a book for young adults. I'm not saying that Tarkington should have handled his themes with the heavy hand of Henry James, but a little of Edith Wharton's nuance or F. Scott Fitzgerald's precision would have added depth to the tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stbalbach
A Magnificent Pulitzer Prize winning novel about the changing fortunes of social class in America in the period following the end of the Civil War to the early part of the 20th century, a time of rapid change in America. It examines three generations of an aristocratic mid-western family the
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Ambersons as they cling to the old ways and are "run over" (literally) by the rise of a new money industrialist class ("riffraff"). Written in 1918 by Tarkington who was born in 1868, just at the end of the Civil War, he lived and saw in person the changing fashions and changing way of life brought on by the industrial revolution: from small towns with horses to modern industrial cities with cars and factories. The Amberson family is a metaphor for a class of people who get their "comeuppance", as the path to success changes from heredity to meritocracy during the industrial revolution and its socially democratizing effects in America. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaitanya64
I found this book among my late aunt's books. I remembered vaguely that I had heard of this author, nothing else. Once I started reading, I got caught up in not only the story, but the author's exquisite, understated style. Descriptions that hint at meaning rather than exhausting my patience with
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details, characters who are clearly types, but whom I feel for anyway. Wonderful writing. The basic plot is the story of the Ambersons, one of the founding families and main social pillars of a midwestern American town. The youngest heir of this great family, young George, is a spoiled arrogant brat. When the family's fortunes collapse and they are eclipsed by the wealth and importance of the new manufacturing class, George's self image and, in fact, the world as he has known it, slowly dissolve around him. Truly a gem of a book. Show Less
LibraryThing member cdogzilla
Charitably, I suppose you could call this a 'minor classic,' or a 'regional classic,' but it strikes me as more of dated bit of melodrama. It's not hard to see why it might have been popular at it's time, and it no doubt will retain value a look back into tumultuous period (is there any other
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kind?) in American history. This is one instance where I would definitely recommend the movie (Orson Welles' version) over the source material. Show Less
LibraryThing member lsh63
A very good read which take place at the turn of the century, published in 1918. George Amberson Minafer is spoiled, arrogant, condescending to both family and others around him. Everyone is hoping for the day when George gets what's coming to him.
Changes in the American landscape, automation, and
There is a beautiful ending to this story when someone who George treated miserably extends an act of kindness to him even after all he had done.
I am now looking forward to seeing this movie.
Changes in the American landscape, automation, and
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bad investments dwindle the Amberson fortune considerably forcing George to (gasp), get a job in order to support himself and his aunt.There is a beautiful ending to this story when someone who George treated miserably extends an act of kindness to him even after all he had done.
I am now looking forward to seeing this movie.
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LibraryThing member rck
Good Book. People who are unwilling to change when the world changes around them.
LibraryThing member bookworm12
At the turn of the 19th century the world was changing incredibly fast. From electricity to automobiles, people could either embrace the changes or get left behind. This Pulitzer-Prize winner’s title describes a wealthy Midwestern family as “magnificent” and then proceeds to chronicle their
The Ambersons’ fortune, managed by their patriarch Major Amberson, had always been there for the younger generations and they never doubted it would always been there in the future. The Major’s daughter, Isabel, married and had one son, George Amberson Minofaur. George grew up to be a self-centered young man who becomes infatuated with Lucy Morgan.
Lucy and her father Eugene Morgan have known the Ambersons their whole lives. Eugene and Isabel have always been close, though their attraction was limited to friendship after Isabel married. Years later when Isabel is widowed Eugene renews his interest to the chagrin of George. His pompous self-worth won’t even allow him to consider the match as anything less than vulgar.
**SPOILER**
I know that Isabel is the most sympathetic character, but part of me was frustrated by her actions. She allows her son to bully her into a miserable life. The fact that George is completely spoiled and expects the world to be handed to him on a silver platter has to be, at least in part, attributed to how his parents raised him. Isabel turns a blind eye to George’s cruel snobbery and there are never any consequences to his actions.
The ending feels like a really strange add on. It should have ended with George’s accident. I don’t understand what adding a trip to a psychic added to the story except to tidy everything up in an awkward way.
**SPOILERS OVER **
BOTTOM LINE: I was actually expecting to like this one less than I did. It’s not about lovable characters or romance overcoming all obstacles. It’s a story about the world changing whether you want it to or not. It’s about people making selfish decisions and the way that others are affected by those shortsighted views. It’s about hubris and jealousy, selflessness and devotion. To me those counterpoints made for a fascinating look at this time period.
“Youth cannot imagine romance apart from youth. That is why the roles of the heroes and heroines of plays are given by the managers to the most youthful actors they can find among the competent.”
SIDE NOTE: Tarkington is one of the only major authors from Indiana (Lew Wallace and John Green round out the short list). There is a local theatre named after him and I’m glad I finally read one of his books!
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downfall during this tumultuous time. The Ambersons’ fortune, managed by their patriarch Major Amberson, had always been there for the younger generations and they never doubted it would always been there in the future. The Major’s daughter, Isabel, married and had one son, George Amberson Minofaur. George grew up to be a self-centered young man who becomes infatuated with Lucy Morgan.
Lucy and her father Eugene Morgan have known the Ambersons their whole lives. Eugene and Isabel have always been close, though their attraction was limited to friendship after Isabel married. Years later when Isabel is widowed Eugene renews his interest to the chagrin of George. His pompous self-worth won’t even allow him to consider the match as anything less than vulgar.
**SPOILER**
I know that Isabel is the most sympathetic character, but part of me was frustrated by her actions. She allows her son to bully her into a miserable life. The fact that George is completely spoiled and expects the world to be handed to him on a silver platter has to be, at least in part, attributed to how his parents raised him. Isabel turns a blind eye to George’s cruel snobbery and there are never any consequences to his actions.
The ending feels like a really strange add on. It should have ended with George’s accident. I don’t understand what adding a trip to a psychic added to the story except to tidy everything up in an awkward way.
**SPOILERS OVER **
BOTTOM LINE: I was actually expecting to like this one less than I did. It’s not about lovable characters or romance overcoming all obstacles. It’s a story about the world changing whether you want it to or not. It’s about people making selfish decisions and the way that others are affected by those shortsighted views. It’s about hubris and jealousy, selflessness and devotion. To me those counterpoints made for a fascinating look at this time period.
“Youth cannot imagine romance apart from youth. That is why the roles of the heroes and heroines of plays are given by the managers to the most youthful actors they can find among the competent.”
SIDE NOTE: Tarkington is one of the only major authors from Indiana (Lew Wallace and John Green round out the short list). There is a local theatre named after him and I’m glad I finally read one of his books!
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LibraryThing member AliceAnna
I totally forgot to write down my impressions on this book when I finished it so my recollections are very vague. It was well-written and a good look at a changing society as industrialization started taking over. It was a sad book though as the pride of some of the main characters stood between
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them and a good life. Adapt or die. Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Maybe even 4.5* While I knew most of the plot from watching the excellent film adaptation (1942 directed by Orson Wells and starring Joseph Cotten), it was worthwhile reading the original novel. Tarkington is one of a small handful of authors who have won the Pulitzer Prize more than once and
Wells focused on the family drama in the film (and ended a few chapters short of the book!) but the book shows that Tarkington is more interested in the wider social commentary. Even with this wider focus, his portrayal of a pompous narcissist bully in Georgie Minafer is excellent and the book is worth reading for that alone. Georgie is not a caricature and I liked the fact thatTarkington showed him as human which allowed me to sympathize with him even when he was at his most annoying. Being a sentimentalist at heart, I liked the fact that the book allowed Georgie (now George) to be reprieved and possibly (hopefully) get back together with Lucy Morgan.
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reading this novel, I could understand why. Wells focused on the family drama in the film (and ended a few chapters short of the book!) but the book shows that Tarkington is more interested in the wider social commentary. Even with this wider focus, his portrayal of a pompous narcissist bully in Georgie Minafer is excellent and the book is worth reading for that alone. Georgie is not a caricature and I liked the fact that
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LibraryThing member ShadowBarbara
Bought 12/22/2013. Great characters and development. Loved Eugene Morgan and daughter Lucy. Great descriptions of the turn of the 20th century.
LibraryThing member jeffome
I have always enjoyed Tarkington, and i have finally gotten to this one, his winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1918. (I read it in a larger omnibus of several of Tarkington's works titled 'The Gentleman from Indianapolis.') My one big beef of this novel, is that the main character George
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Amberson Minafer is just 100% unlikable....which can make for a long slog, cuz who wants to be entertained by reading endlessly about someone you cannot stand? But Tarkington has some talent in the way he makes us all want him to see the error of his ways .....and we keep reading in hopes. Tarkington's subtle wit is fully present and accounted for here and his descriptions of this metamorphosis of a mid-USA town becoming a city in the early 20th century is very captivating. I could always picture where we were and what the houses looked like, etc., and i enjoy that. I plowed through this in one day which surprised me. Would it cut the mustard today for this prize??? highly unlikely, but that's what makes it so much fun! Show Less
LibraryThing member tealadytoo
The book follows the fortunes of the Amberson family, particularly the Amberson grandson, George Amberson Minafer. George is a child at the beginning of the story, and by the end is a young man in his 20s. The Ambersons are a prominent family in a Midwestern town, whose prominence rests on the
Georgie is worshipped by his mother, and amuses his grandfather who encourages his pride, and generally grows into an obnoxious, pompous, brat who believes family greatness makes him naturally great.
But Tarkington makes the point that family greatness isn’t possible in America. The great men will always be those who invent/back/develop the next great thing, and those behind the last great thing will fade away. Family love endures, family greatness is bound to collapse.
The inevitable collapse comes when George is still young enough to possibly salvage his character, and it is very poignantly written. The reader is not given a “happily ever after”, just a possibility of better things for some characters, which feels realistic.
Overall, an excellent read.
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fortune the grandfather amassed after the Civil War via railroads.Georgie is worshipped by his mother, and amuses his grandfather who encourages his pride, and generally grows into an obnoxious, pompous, brat who believes family greatness makes him naturally great.
But Tarkington makes the point that family greatness isn’t possible in America. The great men will always be those who invent/back/develop the next great thing, and those behind the last great thing will fade away. Family love endures, family greatness is bound to collapse.
The inevitable collapse comes when George is still young enough to possibly salvage his character, and it is very poignantly written. The reader is not given a “happily ever after”, just a possibility of better things for some characters, which feels realistic.
Overall, an excellent read.
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LibraryThing member Ameise1
That was a very interesting reading. It shows the rise and fall of American families who leave a footnote in history or nothing. In this particular story the fall of the Amberson family is shown. Whereas George Amberson Minafer's grandfather was a wealthy and respected man, his offspring show no
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incentive to manage or enhance the asset. On the contrary, they feel that they can continue to live on a large foot as this was the case earlier, without doing anything for the community and also to pursue any profession. But the world turned quickly. New inventions such as the car has been made, the city kept growing and new names were more important to the community than the Ambersons. George Amberson Minafer started to work only when the whole family fortune was lost and he had to support his aunt so she could spend a pleasant retirement. Show Less
LibraryThing member JaneSteen
Where I got the book: ARC from publisher. Some spoilers in the review. My review is of the Legacy Vintage Editions Kindle e-book.
One of the most delightful aspects of the e-book revolution is the opportunity to rediscover once-loved novels that are no longer household names. Although they're
I had heard of the 1942 film version of The Magnificent Ambersons but had never seen it nor read the book, so I came to this novel with fresh eyes. And what a charming discovery it's been.
This is the cautionary tale of George Amberson Minafer, an offshoot of the wealthy Amberson family who dominate their small "Midland" (Midwestern?) town. George, his parents' only child, is completely spoiled by his mother and, naturally, grows up tyrannical and selfish. I couldn't help liking George right from the beginning, though; he has a strong sense of honor, a deep loyalty to the few people and principles he does respect, and is undeniably brave. He is born into a time and society of spacious houses set on expansive property, magnificence born of the thrift of Yankee ancestors who worked hard for their prosperity, and he has completely absorbed those values.
A new order is introduced in the persons of Eugene Morgan and his daughter Lucy. Eugene, a manufacturer of "horseless carriages," is an old flame of George's mother; now widowed, he has returned to set up shop in the town and at this point George, a representative of the old-style upper class founded on the slow accumulation of wealth, can laugh at him both for his lower social position and for the absurdity of believing that a machine can replace a horse. And yet he's strongly attracted to Lucy...
As the years go by, we see the fortunes of the two families reverse themselves. Morgan typifies the new aristocracy of wealth created by the rapid growth of manufacturing; we see the once-mocked horseless carriage become the coveted automobile while the Amberson district goes downhill, the sources of their prosperity are eroded, the once vast properties are gradually subdivided and their small town becomes a large city. Their downfall is exacerbated by their notion that they are gentlefolk who would demean themselves by entering into the manufacturing activities that are making the fortunes of the new men. George embodies all of these conservative attitudes: he staunchly insists that horses are better than automobiles and does not even countenance the idea of working for a living.
In the meantime, George's father, almost invisible in Amberson society, dies and it becomes clear that the flame between his mother and Eugene Morgan is still alive. Naturally, George's selfishness will not allow him to put his mother's happiness before his.
I won't spoil the story by revealing the ending, but suffice it to say that it follows quite naturally from the character arcs the author has put in place. George is redeemed to a certain extent by the good qualities his spoiled childhood did not manage to destroy (or possibly even fostered) but the ending is a sad one with just a glimmer of hope.
It's a great story, told in a sharply ironic and yet loving tone, and I enjoyed it immensely. As for the edition, it's not bad: the ARC I received still had some conversion errors to be cleaned up, but was well formatted with a table of contents, introduction, glossary, and a somewhat eclectic collection of images at the end (they would have been better spread out through the text - Water For Elephants is a Kindle edition that comes to mind as doing this well). Consistent quality will be the key to success in this niche, and I think Legacy Romance has made a good start.
One of the most delightful aspects of the e-book revolution is the opportunity to rediscover once-loved novels that are no longer household names. Although they're
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usually available for free, I'm all in favor of publishers like Legacy Romance charging a low price for well-formatted digital versions. I can see that this trend will grow and competition will become fiercer, which is all good for the reader.I had heard of the 1942 film version of The Magnificent Ambersons but had never seen it nor read the book, so I came to this novel with fresh eyes. And what a charming discovery it's been.
This is the cautionary tale of George Amberson Minafer, an offshoot of the wealthy Amberson family who dominate their small "Midland" (Midwestern?) town. George, his parents' only child, is completely spoiled by his mother and, naturally, grows up tyrannical and selfish. I couldn't help liking George right from the beginning, though; he has a strong sense of honor, a deep loyalty to the few people and principles he does respect, and is undeniably brave. He is born into a time and society of spacious houses set on expansive property, magnificence born of the thrift of Yankee ancestors who worked hard for their prosperity, and he has completely absorbed those values.
A new order is introduced in the persons of Eugene Morgan and his daughter Lucy. Eugene, a manufacturer of "horseless carriages," is an old flame of George's mother; now widowed, he has returned to set up shop in the town and at this point George, a representative of the old-style upper class founded on the slow accumulation of wealth, can laugh at him both for his lower social position and for the absurdity of believing that a machine can replace a horse. And yet he's strongly attracted to Lucy...
As the years go by, we see the fortunes of the two families reverse themselves. Morgan typifies the new aristocracy of wealth created by the rapid growth of manufacturing; we see the once-mocked horseless carriage become the coveted automobile while the Amberson district goes downhill, the sources of their prosperity are eroded, the once vast properties are gradually subdivided and their small town becomes a large city. Their downfall is exacerbated by their notion that they are gentlefolk who would demean themselves by entering into the manufacturing activities that are making the fortunes of the new men. George embodies all of these conservative attitudes: he staunchly insists that horses are better than automobiles and does not even countenance the idea of working for a living.
In the meantime, George's father, almost invisible in Amberson society, dies and it becomes clear that the flame between his mother and Eugene Morgan is still alive. Naturally, George's selfishness will not allow him to put his mother's happiness before his.
I won't spoil the story by revealing the ending, but suffice it to say that it follows quite naturally from the character arcs the author has put in place. George is redeemed to a certain extent by the good qualities his spoiled childhood did not manage to destroy (or possibly even fostered) but the ending is a sad one with just a glimmer of hope.
It's a great story, told in a sharply ironic and yet loving tone, and I enjoyed it immensely. As for the edition, it's not bad: the ARC I received still had some conversion errors to be cleaned up, but was well formatted with a table of contents, introduction, glossary, and a somewhat eclectic collection of images at the end (they would have been better spread out through the text - Water For Elephants is a Kindle edition that comes to mind as doing this well). Consistent quality will be the key to success in this niche, and I think Legacy Romance has made a good start.
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LibraryThing member m_k_m
A nostalgic book that turns nostalgia on its head to warn against the dangers of romanticising the past and assuming the present is eternal. And it's done in a profoundly American way that views growth as inevitable, and a work ethic the key to not being crushed under the wheels of chains.
The
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ending is batshit, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member hailelib
This novel won a Pulitzer Prize and is often considered to be Tarkington's best novel. It is a fairly easy and quick read but the main character is deeply flawed and one I disliked until nearly the end of the book. However, many of his faults were due to the way his family, especially his mother,
The Magnificent Ambersons was also the story of how life was changing in the early 1900's with the coming of factories and automobiles and new ways of living and thinking.
The Amberson's small midwest town was transforming into a city during this period and the Old Guard became more and more irrelevant as new people took over the social and political scene.
I suppose that I can recommend it but I must say that the way the ending went seemed odd and even improbable. On the other hand, this is the period my grandparents grew up in and it was interesting to me for that reason. While this is my first experience with this novel I had read several others of his before I started high school because I found them at my grandmother's house and at that period I read everything I came across.
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excused every mistake and failed to teach George how to interact with other people. He believed that his way was the only one and that he and his family were more important than anyone else. Thus he was totally unprepared for everything to go wrong and he lost everything that had been important to him.The Magnificent Ambersons was also the story of how life was changing in the early 1900's with the coming of factories and automobiles and new ways of living and thinking.
The Amberson's small midwest town was transforming into a city during this period and the Old Guard became more and more irrelevant as new people took over the social and political scene.
I suppose that I can recommend it but I must say that the way the ending went seemed odd and even improbable. On the other hand, this is the period my grandparents grew up in and it was interesting to me for that reason. While this is my first experience with this novel I had read several others of his before I started high school because I found them at my grandmother's house and at that period I read everything I came across.
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LibraryThing member Pharmacdon
Riffraff is defined as disputable or undesirable people. This is what George Amberson Minafer thought of the world. He was, after all, an Amberson. This egotistical young man misunderstood the world around him and misunderstood any argument as a slight against him. The riffraff of the story are
“Eugene laughed. "You need only three things to explain all that's good and bad about Georgie."
"Three?"
"He's Isabel's only child. He's an Amberson. He's a boy."
"Well, Mister Bones, of these three things which are the good ones and which are the bad ones?"
"All of them," said Eugene.”
This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1919 and is the second book in The Growth Trilogy by Booth Tarkington.
A good book for me is one that has a good plot, great characters, philosophical musings, and great quotes. This book has all of those and more.
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those normal people who don’t care about the Ambersons and had at one point in time thought Georgie should get his comeuppance sometime in the near future for his bratty behavior as a child and adult. You as the reader want to hit him on the side of the head with the book you are reading.“Eugene laughed. "You need only three things to explain all that's good and bad about Georgie."
"Three?"
"He's Isabel's only child. He's an Amberson. He's a boy."
"Well, Mister Bones, of these three things which are the good ones and which are the bad ones?"
"All of them," said Eugene.”
This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1919 and is the second book in The Growth Trilogy by Booth Tarkington.
A good book for me is one that has a good plot, great characters, philosophical musings, and great quotes. This book has all of those and more.
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LibraryThing member debbie13410
An arrogant man child can't see past his imperious needs. He is blind to social and economic changes surrounding him. Pulitzer winner.
LibraryThing member sophroniaborgia
A classic novel describing the downfall of a nineteenth-century American family, which serves as a metaphor for the rapid disappearance of agrarian small-town America at the hands of twentieth-century industrialization and sprawl. George Amberson Minafer has grown up knowing the importance of his
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1919 for this book, Booth Tarkington was an incredibly popular writer who authored many bestsellers of his day. His writing is very good, keeping up the forward movement of the plot while still taking time to beautifully evoke the details of the lost nineteenth-century world -- social mores, architecture, clothing. (Unfortunately, one of the period details he includes is racism toward the black servants of the Amberson family.)
The theme of this novel seems to leave Tarkington a bit conflicted. It's true that the Ambersons are not a pleasant bunch and that a lot of their undoing can be blamed on their own foolishness and arrogance, particularly George. But despite that, Tarkington seems almost elegiac in describing their downfall, and he makes it clear that he is sympathetic to George's complaints about the automobile and the devaluation of the Amberson estate. But it's difficult for a modern-day reader to feel much sympathy for a young man who insists that the best people are people who "are" things and not people who "do" things. Tarkington makes a lot of excuses about George's youth, and it's true that young people are susceptible to being idealists about some truly terrible ideas. Tarkington is prescient about some of the problems that widespread automobile use will lead to -- pollution, sprawl -- but he doesn't seem quite sure if the widespread prosperity that also resulted was a good thing or not. I think that may be why Tarkington's work is fairly obscure today, despite being well-written. But in a time when we are facing rapid societal changes ourselves, maybe a look back at how a previous century handled these problems is worthwhile.
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place as the heir to the wealthy and prominent Ambersons, and it has left him spoiled, arrogant and obsessed with his "name." But the end of the nineteenth century brings some devastating changes, embodied by Eugene Morgan, a former suitor of George's mother who has become an inventor of the hot new technology, automobiles. The conflict between George and Eugene will eventually bring down the entire Amberson family and bring irrevocable change to their world.Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1919 for this book, Booth Tarkington was an incredibly popular writer who authored many bestsellers of his day. His writing is very good, keeping up the forward movement of the plot while still taking time to beautifully evoke the details of the lost nineteenth-century world -- social mores, architecture, clothing. (Unfortunately, one of the period details he includes is racism toward the black servants of the Amberson family.)
The theme of this novel seems to leave Tarkington a bit conflicted. It's true that the Ambersons are not a pleasant bunch and that a lot of their undoing can be blamed on their own foolishness and arrogance, particularly George. But despite that, Tarkington seems almost elegiac in describing their downfall, and he makes it clear that he is sympathetic to George's complaints about the automobile and the devaluation of the Amberson estate. But it's difficult for a modern-day reader to feel much sympathy for a young man who insists that the best people are people who "are" things and not people who "do" things. Tarkington makes a lot of excuses about George's youth, and it's true that young people are susceptible to being idealists about some truly terrible ideas. Tarkington is prescient about some of the problems that widespread automobile use will lead to -- pollution, sprawl -- but he doesn't seem quite sure if the widespread prosperity that also resulted was a good thing or not. I think that may be why Tarkington's work is fairly obscure today, despite being well-written. But in a time when we are facing rapid societal changes ourselves, maybe a look back at how a previous century handled these problems is worthwhile.
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FIC A4 Tar