George Mills [Paperback]

Stanley Elkin (Author), Chirs Lehmann (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Considered by many to be Elkin's magnum opus, George Mills is, an ambitious, digressive and endlessly entertaining account of the 1,000 year history of the George Millses. From toiling as a stable boy during the crusades to working as a furniture mover, there has always been a George Mills whose lot in life is to serve important personages. But the latest in the line of true blue-collar workers may also be the last, as he obsesses about his family's history and decides to break the cycle of doomed George Millses. An inventive, unique family saga, George Mills is Elkin at his most manic, most comic and most poignant. First published by Random House (1982), most recent paperback by Avon (1996).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A comedy that cuts so many ways that it leaves us bleeding with laughter." -- New York Times

"A true artist . . . Stanley Elkin never lets us down. . . . I read his books with pleasure and also with respect." -- Saul Bellow

"Stanley Elkin’s imagination should be declared a national landmark." -- Paul Auster

About the Author

Stanley Elkin--a two-time recipient of the Nation Book Critics Circle Award--is widely regarded as one of America's most important contemporary writers. During his lifetime he wrote more than a dozen novels and short story collections, including THE MAGIC KINGDON, THE FRANCHISER, and THE DICK GIBSON SHOW.

Product Details

• Paperback: 518 pages
• Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564782921
• ISBN-13: 978-1564782922
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #971,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stanley Elkin (1930-1995) was an award-winning author of novels, short stories, and essays. Born in the Bronx, Elkin received his BA and PhD from the University of Illinois and in 1960 became a professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis where he taught until his death. His critically acclaimed works include the National Book Critics Circle Award-winners George Mills (1982) and Mrs. Ted Bliss (1995), as well as the National Book Award finalists The Dick Gibson Show (1972), Searches & Seizures (1974), and The MacGuffin (1991). His book of novellas, Van Gogh's Room at Arles, was a finalist for the PEN Faulkner Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzling, December 10, 1999

By 

J. Hoffman - See all my reviews

This review is from: George Mills (Paperback)

Elkin is about as good as it gets when it comes to fiction (modern, postmodern, classical or otherwise), and GM, while not his best (as he claimed) is awfully good. In reading his novels and stories, one needs to simply go with it: there's a kind of quote/unquote dao that's a prerequisite, and you'll need it with GM more than the others. But once you're in the groove of his prose and story you'll be ... well, enchanted is not quite the word for it. Enhanced is probably a better one. While I'd recommend this book highly, I'd also recommend picking up The Franchiser or The Magic Kingdom first. Elkin was one of our very, very best, so you can't really go wrong with any of his titles.