Customer Reviews

Arrow in the Blue

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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.

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.