The Devil's Own Work [Hardcover]

Alan Judd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 1997

A story of literary possession, of a writer who is possessed by a literary spirit. On his death it passes on to another. No explanations are offered other than the continuing presence of an apparently ageless woman who attaches herself to these unlucky and eventually desperate men.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This modern version of the Faust legend has an old man of letters pass down to a young writer an ancient manuscript which bestows the gift of easy literary style and fluency -- and consequently head-turning success -- while blocking entirely any genuine creative power. To underline the devilishness of the bargain, the young author is seen to gradually throw away normal human decency as he gives in to overwhelming self-indulgence, and comes under the sensual sway of the old man's seductive mistress. On one level then, pure Faust. On another, Alan Judd's book, winner of the 1991 Guardian Fiction Prize, is a sophisticated self-referential commentary on the cliquish post-modern literary scene. This stylish and substantial novel is a clever attack on those who elevate insubstantial style. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

British novelist Judd's short, ambivalent fable on the hazards of creativity and fame is distinguished by a style as psychologically nuanced as that of Henry James. Moments before he dies, O. M. Tyrrel, reclusive octogenarian doyen of English letters, bequeaths to the protagonist, fledgling writer Edward, an ancient manuscript. This virtually illegible handwritten document bestows endless creativity on its owner, dictating ideas and themes to Edward as it takes possession of his soul. Achieving fame and wealth as a postmodern novelist, Edward is also possessed by Eudoxie, Tyrell's ageless, elusive mistress, who becomes his live-in companion. Eudoxie exerts a sinister force on him and also may be the wraithlike presence made visible to the story's nameless narrator, an English teacher and old friend of Edward's who envies his success. The action moves from London to the French Riviera, where Edward seduces the narrator's wife, Chantal. Judd, a biographer of Ford Madox Ford, pays homage to that writer and his novel The Good Soldier in this homiletic parable that supports the dictum that "truth in art matters." He charges postmodernist fiction with betraying that principle by blurring the line between reality and fantasy, and he tweaks the British literary establishment for its cliquishness, pretension, inflated egos and embrace of style over substance--an accusation that apparently did not serve as a handicap when the novel won the 1991 Guardian Fiction Prize in England.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (July 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517193574
• ISBN-13: 978-0517193570
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,228,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Twist to Selling One's Soul to the Muse, February 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Devil's Own Work (Paperback)

So you want to become a famous writer? One way to achieve this success is to sell your soul to the devil, a price not unheard of since Faust willingly paid that price in works by Marlowe and Goethe. Alan Judd's little novel, THE DEVIL'S OWN WORK, reworks the Faust legend with humor and a literary economy comparable to Hemingway. The novel is a mixture of strangeness and mystery; it was written as an homage to Ford Madox Ford and THE GOOD SOLDIER. This story explores the supernatural nature of creativity and the perils confronted an artist with more ambition than he perhaps has talent. It is a delightful tale that not only examines the nature of the creative act as well as the demon temptations to which an artist may be subjected, but also the vacuous literary elitism that often honors personalities above their literary merit. Alan Judd, author of a critically acclaimed biography on Ford Madox Ford, has also written four previous novels

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen King's Praise Couldn't Save It!, October 18, 1999

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Devil's Own Work (Hardcover)

I was lucky to find Devil's Own Work in a discount bin with Stephen King's praise, "Best novel I read this year" on it. And it was a great novella, so great I wanted to teach it in my English course. But it's out of print. There's no justice in the publishing world. This classic needs to find a reissue--fast!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging little fable, October 5, 2007

By 

Henry W. Wagner (Rockaway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Devil's Own Work (Hardcover)

Its been said that the extraordinary Jack Ritchie wrote entire novels disguised as short stories. Alan Judd seems to be able to do the same thing. This story is "fat-free", stripped of all nonessentials, a taut, high grade piece of work. At 115 pages, this book can not be confused with a door stop, nor would you want to use it as such.

The Devils Own Work is the story of a writer possessed, as told by his closest acquaintance (the author has no real friends--his work is all consuming). This Faustian allegory works as a deal with the Devil story and as a commentary on authorial integrity and control. Either way, it's and engaging little tome, and well worth your time.