The Blood of the Lamb [Paperback]

Peter De Vries (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T) (1962)
• ASIN: B000OU5E34
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Takes One's Breath Away, December 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blood of the Lamb (Paperback)

Peter De Vries's *Blood of the Lamb* is a novel of singular depth and humanity. De Vries was America's greatest humorist in the fifties and sixties, but in this work, he deals, from autobiographical experience, with his young daughter's struggle against leukemia. Overflowing with love, wit, fury, energy, and human grace, this book goes to the core of things. It ranks with the greatest works of 20th-century American literature, and it will surprise you. De Vries is best known for his great work for *The New Yorker* and for comedic novels (many made into films) rich in puns, the anatomy of absurdity, and the depredations and joys of libido....but *Blood of the Lamb* is his transcendent work. It's out of print now, and used copies are often hard to come by. It's an exceptional and humanizing experience. It is a moving sublimation of irredeemable tragedy.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humor, Drama, Spiritual Reflection, and Artistry., June 7, 2005

By 

Gabriel Bernstein "Gabriel Bernstein" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blood of the Lamb: A Novel (Paperback)

Very pleased that the University Of Chicago Press has brought this book back into print. Now I can discard the looseleaf version that I photocopied from a friend and purchase this one. This is a poignant and funny book that, after reading you will never forget. Buy 3 or 4 copies of it, because you will want all your friends and relatives to read it too!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Moving and Funny, June 6, 2000

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Blood of the Lamb (Hardcover)

Like all of De Vries work, this is a very funny book devoted to a very serious subject. The serious subject is loss of faith, in this case elicited by the serious illness and eventual death of a young child. Based apparently on events within De Vries' own family, Blood of the Lamb has all the hallmarks of De Vries best work; superb humor, exceptionally witty word play, and great emotional power. The conclusion is remarkably moving. I have recommended this book to physicians in training to convey the incredible suffering experienced by families with ill children.