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| books
and such... |
Henderson
the Rain King
by Saul
Bellow
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Reprint edition
(June 1996)
Penguin USA
(Paper); ISBN: 0140189424
Seriocomic
novel by Saul Bellow, published in 1959. The novel examines
the midlife crisis of Eugene Henderson, an unhappy millionaire.
The story concerns Henderson's search for meaning. A larger-than-life
55-year-old who has accumulated money, position, and a large
family, he nonetheless feels unfulfilled. He makes a spiritual
journey to Africa, where he draws emotional sustenance from
experiences with African tribes. Deciding that his true destiny
is as a healer, Henderson returns home, planning to enter
medical school.
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| articles
and reviews |
February 23, 1959
Books of the Times
By ORVILLE PRESCOTT
Henderson the Rain
King By Saul Bellow
L. EUGENE HENDERSON, a multimillionaire by trade and a pathetic,
swaggering clown by nature, reached an imaginary point of no return
when he was 55 years old and felt that he had to go to Africa. His
incessant follies, his alcoholism (he was often drunk before lunch)
and his mordant discontent were more than he could bear. Henderson
was Òmoody, rough, tyrannical and probably mad.Ó But he was bored.
He was unhappy. Raising pigs, learning to play the violin, doing
hard physical labor on his estate near Danbury--nothing could soothe
his tedium vitae and general agony of spirit. Henderson was
a champion sufferer, a fabulously strong giant of a man with a sentimental
heart and no common sense whatever. He is the hero and narrator
of ÒHenderson the Rain King,Ó a peculiar, prolix and exasperating
novel by Saul Bellow.
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