Dubin's Lives [Paperback]

Bernard Malamud (Author), Thomas Mallon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2003

With a new introduction by Thomas Mallon

Dubin's Lives (1979) is a compassionate and wry commedia, a book praised by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt in The New York Times as Malamud's "best novel since The Assistant. Possibly, it is the best he has written of all."

Its protagonist is one of Malamud's finest characters; prize-winning biographer William Dubin, who learns from lives, or thinks he does: those he writes, those he shares, the life he lives. Now in his later middle age, he seeks his own secret self, and the obsession of biography is supplanted by the obsession of love--love for a woman half is age, who has sought an understanding of her life through his books. Dubin's Lives is a rich, subtle book, as well as a moving tale of love and marriage.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Malamud here introduces us to William Dubin, a popular biographer in his late 50s whose life and work are in a serious slump. LJ's reviewer described this as a "moving, compelling, and deeply personal novel" (LJ 1/15/79).
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Dubin's Lives, for my money, is certainly Malamud's best novel since The Assistant. Possibly, it is the best he has written of all."
--Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times

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Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374528829
• ISBN-13: 978-0374528829
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dubin's lives, January 2, 2007

By 

An admirer of Saul "Mr Wobble" (uk) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Dubin's Lives (Paperback)

The story of William Dubin,the biographer, who believes all lives are ordered or at least make consistent sense,though comes to realize that it is only the biographer in him that can deliver this scenario to the lives of others but focusing in on certain chance moments in a subjects life.During a hectic year attempting to write the life of DH Lawrence,Dubin sees events and emotions slipping out of control and his idealistic view of human exsistence fall apart.
This was Malamuds great theme;how little control we actually have over our lives.Nature,chance meetings,the times we grew up in and the new ones we live in (with new sensibilities and morals) all shape us like water shapes rock,and human exsistence isn't based on permanence.
Malamud paints such vivid scenes with so few words that I will be able to picture in my mind forever William Dubins long walk route,his trip to Sweden,to Venice and his confusion in the snow. A lovely book. I enjoyed being in its company.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dubin's Lives, November 15, 2000

By 

baby bell (liverpool uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dubin's Lives (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Paperback)

A strong book that engages the reader in its story as though s/he is a character. Taking you on a rather poignant journey through the seasons, not only of the year but of William Dubin's life, his stayed yet tender relationship with his wife and his fun, youth replenishing affair with the 23yr old Fanny Bick. All the time we are reminded that life is for living and the moment for siezing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subtle novel, August 21, 2008

By 

bookman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dubin's Lives (Paperback)

I don't write a lot of reviews, but I thought I would chime in on this one because it seems that hardly anybody reads Malamud anymore. This is a nice, subtle, introspective novel that offers thoughtful insights into aging, marriage, writing, and nature.