Saul Bellow

The story of Tommy Wilhelm, an honest, hard-working man who has lost his job, his girlfriend, and part of his sanity as he heads to New York to pick up the pieces of his life.

The third volume of the Library of America's edition of Saul Bellow's complete novels collects three essential works: Mr. Sammler's Planet (1970), Humboldt's Gift (1975) -- and The Dean's December (1982). In each, Bellow shows himself a master of biting social commentary and bold characterization--above all through a trio of unforgettable protagonists. These novels, written in the period of Bellow's greatest literary and popular acclaim--he was awarded...

Augie March is a Jewish-American boy growing up fatherless and poor in Depression-era Chicago. He seeks a "special destiny," although his circumstances seem to position him for a uniquely disappointing life: his family consists of a simple-minded mother, a brother and "grandmother" who prove to be Machiavellian in their intentions, and an "idiot" youngest brother, Georgie.

For over forty years Saul Bellow has been writing fiction that denounces the destructive forces that have dominated the literature of this century - existential nihilism and historicist pessimism. In novel after novel - The Adventures of Augie March, Herzog, Humboldt's Gift, Mr. Sammler's Planet, and others - he has tried to restore the integrity of the private life, the value of human feeling, and the primacy of social contract and proclaimed each...

"A funny and moving love story, The Actual centres on Chicagoan Harry Trellman who, after a lifetime of making money, has become `a first class noticer' - and he realizes he has been in love since high school days with Amy Wustrin. Now he is ready to pursue her, in the romantic golden-year ambience of a cemetery. The Actual is a work of ripened vision from one of the greatest writers in the English language"--Amazon.com.

Tommy Wilhelm's life is falling apart. He's lost his job and his girlfriend, his investments have gone sour, he trusts the wrong people with the little money he has left, and he's rejected by his own father. Quite simply, Tommy is a portrait of failure.