Aurora Dawn [Paperback]

Wouk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1986

The publication of 'Aurora Dawn' in 1947 immediately established Herman Wouk as a novelist of exceptional literary and historical significance. Today, Aurora Dawn's themes have grown still more relevant and, in the manner of all great fiction, its characters and ironies have only been sharpened by the passage of time. Wouk's raucous satire of Manhattan's high-power elite recounts the adventures of one Andrew Reale as he struggles toward fame and fortune in the early days of radio. On the quest for wealth and prestige, ambitious young Andrew finds himself face-to-face with his own devil's bargain: forced to choose between soul and salary, true love and a strategic romance, Wouk's riotous, endearing hero learns a timeless lesson about the high cost of success in America's most extravagant metropolis.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Herman Wouk (born May 27, 1915) is an bestselling American author, with a number of notable novels to his credit, including The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance. He was born in New York City, into a Jewish family that had immigrated from Russia, and received an A.B. from Columbia University. He was first a radio scriptwriter, and worked with Fred Allen, then in 1941 worked for the US government on radio spots selling war bonds. Wouk then joined the United States Navy and served in the Pacific Theater, an experience he later characterized as educational; "I learned about machinery, I learned how men behaved under pressure, and I learned about Americans." His first ship was the USS Zane, then he was second-in-command on the Southard. He started his writing career onboard, working on a novel during his off-duty hours. He married Betty Sarah Brown in 1945, with whom he had three sons, became a fulltime writer in 1946, and published his debut novel, Aurora Dawn in 1947. In 1952, The Caine Mutiny received the Pulitzer Prize. In 1998, he received the Guardian of Zion Award. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket (July 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671635832
• ISBN-13: 978-0671635831
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,646,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Herman Wouk earned his living as a scriptwriter for Fred Allen before serving in World War II. His career as a novelist spans nearly six decades and has brought him resounding international acclaim. He lives in Palm Springs, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable book -- not Herman Wouk's usual style, March 25, 2000

By 

Leah Suslovich (Brookline, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aurora Dawn (Hardcover)

"Aurora Dawn" was Herman Wouk's first book, and while it is an enjoyable read, it is not comparable to his masterpieces like "The Caine Mutiny" or "Marjorie Morningstar." This tale of a young man in advertising who is determined to rise to the top at all costs is told in a flippant, almost sarcastic style. The author keeps intruding himself into the tale with comments on how the story is going, which can be annoying even though it yields some of the book's most humorous lines. The characters are deftly drawn but not especially sympathetic. This book is a quick and enjoyable read, and has some interesting takes on the advertising business. Just don't expect one of Wouk's masterpieces.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Satire, May 11, 2000

By 

Skylar Hamilton Burris "Skylar" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aurora Dawn (Paperback)

I don't know if it is accurate to say that this novel is not as good as Wouk's masterpieces (Caine Mutiny, Winds of War, etc.), because it is an entirely different genre. As an example of satire, Aurora Dawn excels in much the same way that the Caine Mutiny excels as a war novel. Wouk very cleverly mocks the modern world, from psychiatry, to advertising, to irreligiousness. An easy, enjoyable read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No comparison, November 12, 2010

By 

Magmonkey34 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aurora Dawn (Paperback)

I like to stay loyal to an author when I've enjoyed reading one of their books and after Marjorie Morningstar, I picked up Aurora Dawn. There is no comparison. If you are at all like me and like to immerse yourself into a good book, don't pick this one up. Wouk's writing style in this is strange, he makes constant asides from the author to the reader. It interrupts the story and makes it impossible to connect with either the plot or the characters.