Arrow in the Blue [Hardcover]

Arthur Koestler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1970

The first volume of his autobiography covers the first 26 years of Koestler’s life, ending with his joining the Communist Party in 1931. Written with zest, joie de vivre and frankness, it is a fascinating self-portrait of a remarkable young man at the heart of the events that shaped the twentieth century.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur Koestler was born in Budapest in 1905. He attended the university of Vienna before working as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, Berlin and Paris. For six years he was an active member of the Communist Party, and was captured by Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Arthur Koestler spent several months in a death cell during the Spanish Civil War, was sent in 1939 to a French concentration camp, then joined the Foreign Legion and escaped to England in 1940. He died in 1983 by suicide, having frequently expressed a belief in the right to euthanasia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co (April 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0025650203
• ISBN-13: 978-0025650206
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,430,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Budapest in 1905, educated in Vienna, Arthur Koestler immersed himself in the major ideological and social conflicts of his time. A communist during the 1930s, and visitor for a time in the Soviet Union, he became disillusioned with the Party and left it in 1938. Later that year in Spain, he was captured by the Fascist forces under Franco, and sentenced to death. Released through the last-minute intervention of the British government, he went to France where, the following year, he again was arrested for his political views. Released in 1940, he went to England, where he made his home. His novels, reportage, autobiographical works, and political and cultural writings established him as an important commentator on the dilemmas of the 20th century. He died in 1983.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Autobiography as a Work of Art, July 1, 2007

By 

Michael "Michael" (Hamburg, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arrow in the Blue (Paperback)

It is a mystery to me why this book doesn't have as many fans as it ought to, although considering Koestler's other works it is up against a lot of competition. Seldom have I been as captivated by an autobiography as I was with this one, what with the fascinating stories of Arthur's life interspersed with his unique perspectives on many questions of politics, psychology, religion, philosophy and more. An account of his life from 1905-31 in 415 pages, fans of Koestler's earlier works (pre 1952) will recognize a lot of material here though, as he often quotes from his own books where he obviously feels he's described something best. The accounts of his student life in the duelling fraternities of 1920s Vienna, his attempted settlement in Palestine, experiences as a journalist in pre-Hitler Berlin, travels in the Soviet Union in the early thirties, even a trip to the North Pole in the Graf Zeppelin are all equally absorbing. But it would just be another well-written autobiography if it wasn't for the unique wisdom and insight of Koestler, which shines through these pages, resulting in a book which is a must-read for both Koestler fans and the casual reader. It will no doubt leave you thirsting for part 2, The Invisible Writing (which covers 1932-40 in 526 pages), a more run-of-the-mill autobiography without as much of the philosophizing of part 1, but still enjoyable in its own right.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book, January 2, 2012

By 

Rania Ejeilat (Amman, Jordan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arrow in the Blue (Hardcover)

I got this book immediately after reading "Darkness at Noon", my first experience with Koestler. His autobiography is equally fascinating. As in his novel, Koestler really, almost physically, takes you to the places he writes about. You will find yourself in Budapest, in intense, ritualistic fraternity meetings in a Vienna basement, on a collective farm in Jerusalem, in pre-war Parisian "Maisons", and even on the north pole. And all along he offers you so much to think about. A little too much self-analysis was irritating at times, the way Koestler won't just share an experience but will immediately explain, psychotherapy style, how it impacted his life and shaped his personality. But this love for small details and the faith that they are somehow significant is a hallmark in his writing and his attitude to personal history (e.g. in "The Sleepwalkers"). And even though you might not always like Koestler, from the Zionist to the promiscuous misogynist to the egocentric romantic, his company is always worth the time. Especially interesting to me as an Arab was reading about his experiences as a settler in Palestine and as first secretary to Jabotinsky, the father of revisionist Zionism.