Comments on: A Perfect Hoax, by Italo Svevo

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:06:56 +0000

Hesperus is my “go to” publisher for when I want something that takes fewer than three hours to read but delivers rewards that last weeks. This one qualifies on that criteria.

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:04:59 +0000

Hesperus, I didn’t pick up on that. Of course it’s good then. They really do make some excellent picks.

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:03:15 +0000

Yes, good point, it does sound like an excellent book to have to hand. Sometimes I finish a book with relief, one that lagged or which seemed to take longer than it needed to. Books like this can be very valuable at such times.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:23:44 +0000

Max: If you run across a copy of this, you should buy it and hang on for when you have a couple of hours available — it is a highly entertaining diversion for anyone who appreciates authors (and their foibles).

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:54:16 +0000

In real life of course the vanity press make (made, with epublishing taking them out of the game) their living through this sort of hoax. Many an aspiring writer was persuaded to pay to see their novel published in some handsome format, that nobody would ever buy from them. Often the novels in question were terrible, ones that hadn’t been conventionally published for very good reason.

The dream of being published, of being a writer, can be a powerful one.

I have an unread Svevo, so won’t be getting this presently, but it does sound very good.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:50:24 +0000

Lisa: You are welcome. Given your interest in writers and their craft (and pecadillos), I think you would find this an interesting diversion. I have been aware of Svevo’s considerable reputation and look forward to reading his more substantial novels in the future.

By: Lisa Hill

Lisa Hill — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 04:19:32 +0000

This sounds wonderful, Kevin. Another writer to add to my wishlist, thank you:)

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:08:19 +0000

Leroy,Guy: My guess would be that Svevo, having met with some success, decided to revisit the theme with a happier ending (although I have never read As A Man Grows Older). Mario doesn't get the attention that he thinks he deserves but succeeds with in dealing with Gaia. I was interested enough that I do intend to try more -- probably The Conscience of Zeno, because I am pretty sure I have a copy.

By: Guy Savage

Guy Savage — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:35:07 +0000

I have a book written by this author around here somewhere. Now to find it and see which title it is…

By: leroyhunter

leroyhunter — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:05:05 +0000

By coincidence I read As A Man Grows Older not two weeks ago Kevin, in the NYRB edition. The foolhardy protagonist of that work has also published one largely-ignored novel, before sinking back into the mundanity and self-delusion that fuel his ultimate, tragic circumstance. Parts of it are brilliant: the denouement I found somewhat bathetic. But I liked it enough to get my hand’s on Zeno’s Conscience yesterday.

The parallels with this piece are clear. In fact, there’s a character in As A Man Grows Older who souds superficially very like Gaia. I was intrigued when I saw you were reviewing this – are you tempted to more Svevo?