Customer Reviews

Contempt (New York Review Books Classics)

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After a second reading of Contempt, I feel compelled to call the short, tautly written novel a masterpiece. Told from the perspective of a neurotic egotist, the narrator accounts how he "sacrificed" his literary writing career to debase himself in the tawdry task of writing screenplays so that he can afford to lavish his wife with a bigger more opulent living quarters. The narrator convinces himself that not only does his wife not appreciate his "sacrifice," but that she no longer loves him. It's horrifying to read this narcissist's account of his marital disintegration because you begin to realize that he is projecting his own lack of love toward his wife (a pefectly fine, loving woman) and you realize that he is so emotionally arrested that he is incapable of loving anyone. Further, a close reading reveals that the narrator never sacrificed his writing career for his wife's opulent tastes, but rather is debasng his writing talents for his own greedy materialistic acquistion.

Many see Moravia's novel as the quintessential example of "modernism," the movement that emphasizes the human limitation for self-understanding and the understanding of others. Also, the novel explores Freudian themes of projection, paranoia, and the powers of the unconscious.

The novel is fast-paced save for a few chapters where the writer and director indulge in long-winded discussions about the mythical exposition of their film but overall the novel is a real page-turner full of suspense and psychological realism.

If you enjoy this suspensful novel told from the point of view of an unreliable narrator, I recommend Asylum by Patrick McGrath, Despair by Vladimir Nabokov, and The Horned Man by James Lasdun.

Finally, someone had the common decency to reprint Moravia intranslation! And they also picked the best titles. Il Disprezzo (TheContempt) is the best, most honest, unflinching look at the disintegration of a relationship that I have ever read. Last released in the States in the 1950's, with the inauspicious title A Ghost at Noon, this is the same excellent translation by Angus Davidson, who translated almost all of the authors works up until his death in 1990. If you've ever experienced the conclusion of a long-term relationship and for some masochistic reason want to remember what it was like, this is the book for you. I guess that's not a ringing endorsement. But trust me, Moravia's penchant for psychological details is so devastatingly on-point, you'll find yourself nodding nauseatingly at the pathetic delusions and convoluted rationalizations taking place between the couple. It should be noted that this isn't the book's only focus. Quite uncharacteristically, Moravia tackles popular culture and the highbrow-lowbrow dichotomy in a darkly humorous fashion. I haven't seen Godard's film adaptation but I understand that it is an incredible achievement in itself.

I came here well equipped to offer my comments on the new editions of two of Moravia's works. I find that the "reviewer" before me has stolen my thunder. I cannot say it any better, but still I cam here to say something so I will. First, I agree with the previous "reviewer" on all counts. I congratulate the publisher for it's honest approach. It's clean, it befits Moravia's honesty. What do I mean? The titles of this book and it's companion piece: Contempt and Boredom. Simple and honest. Previously entitled A Ghost at High Noon and The Empty Canvas the titles never seemed to fit Moravia. These two new editions are ornamented (no not ornamented--wrong word--the illustrations are more) with Pierre Le Tan illustrations perfectly suiting the works. Displayed in the context of a honest classic book design. No gimmicks--just clean, honest work in whole. I've now in the interest of shelf space, done the unthinkable, I've removed the two previous editions of these books from my premises. If you possess them, replace them. These books are a bargain. If you're new to Moravia, do enter with these two books. It is difficult to capture, but Moravia is not as doom and gloom as we all must make him sound. He's honest and it can hurt, but it's worth it.

Finally, someone had the common decency to reprint Moravia in translation. And they also picked the best titles. Il Disprezzo (The Contempt) is the best, most honest, unflinching look at the disintegration of a relationship that I have ever read. Last released in the States in the 1950's under the title A Ghost at Noon, this is the same excellent translation by Angus Davidson, who translated almost all of the authors works up until his death in 1990. If you've ever experienced the conclusion of a long-term relationship and for some masochistic reason want to remember what it was like, this is the book for you. I guess that's not a ringing endorsement. But trust me, Moravia's penchant for psychological details is so devastatingly on-point, you'll find yourself nodding nauseatingly at the pathetic delusions and convoluted rationalizations taking place between the couple. It should be noted that this isn't the book's only focus. Quite uncharacteristically, Moravia tackles popular culture and the highbrow-lowbrow dichotomy in a darkly humorous fashion. I haven't seen Godard's film adaptation but I understand that it is an incredible achievement in itself.

I've often found in my life that I accidentally find just the book I need to read when I need to read it. I've often purchased books because I felt inexplicably drawn to them in the moment. The picture on this book nagged at something in the back of my mind. At a time of depression in my personal life, I feel better having read Moravia's Contempt, proving that "misery does love company." I found characters more obsessed with their depression than am I. And I became more obsessed with them, than with my own depression, at least for a little while. If you play songs that make you cry when are already feeling terrible, you'll love this book.

A theatre writer, Riccardo Molteni, cannot write anymore because his wife, Emilia, does not love him anymore. Moreover, she despises him, all of a sudden.

The search for the reasons which led to this sudden change of feelings, makes Moravia rewrite a modern versin of Ulyse's myth. In a few words, Penelope did not love Ulyse anymore, though she remained faithful to him even before he left for Troja. Why did she not love him? Because the king's behaviour was not masculine enough towards her admirers at the court.
Therefore, Ulyse wins his wife's contempt and consequently leaves for Troja to free himself in a way. After the war, he postpones sine die his return to Ithaca, obessed by the same thing: Penelope's contempt.

When he finally decides to go back home, he knows he has no other solution but to violently kill all Penelope's admirers, in order to get her admiration and love.

And this is how Homer can be well combined with Freud. The moravian style, vivid and direct, manifests itself in this novel, keeping alive the pleasure of your reading.

I think Alberto Moravia is one of the greatest Italian writers of all times. All his novels deal with important issues our society has to face, problems we all have. Many of us will recognize ourselves in his characters.

It will be a very challenging reading that will make you ask a lot of questions about yourself and your life. Enjoy it!

Moravia's writing which I would not have encountered were it not for these elegant new paperback versions of his work is open to the bone. His honest revelations through his all too human characters are poignant, pointed, and penetrating. To any one interested in looking deep inside themeselves and their relationships: I recommend Contempt. Prepare to squirm.

somehow there is a new found celebration for contempt and everything associated with it. a year and a half ago, godard's contempt was finally re-released; a couple of months ago, two new books about casa malaparte allowed us to view the importance of the film's setting, most notably capri and it's culture, but now this new publication of moravia's contempt will allow everyone to view the masterpiece it truly represents.

Impotence, alienation and disillusionment abound in this intense, psychological study of the dissolution of a marriage. I also suggest viewing Godard's film, Contempt - Criterion Collection, which is based on this novel, yet categorically simplifies its philosophical tenets.

dead-on, deadpan, unflinching, painful, and pathetic portrayal of love gone oh so sour. the genius is the narrative voice, and how moravia makes you feel both sympathy and contempt for him. kept me emotionally and intellectually engaged throughout.