Customer Reviews

Where Did It All Go Right?

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I'm a big fan of Alvarez's writing. In particular, I liked his books Night and Feeding the Rat, and the reviews I have been able to catch in The New York Review of books. I got this book in the hopes that it would share the qualities of that writing - intellectual curiousity and a kind of let's try anything and see where it goes attitude. It does.

Alvarez was born between WWI and WWII in England to a fairly prosperous family in the food service industry. He goes to college and studies literature, dropping out in grad school. He becomes a poetry critic and writes a few books, the most successful of which is a survey, so to speak, of suicide. He gets married a couple of times, hangs out with many contemporary literati, rock climbs, plays poker, and travels.

Part of the fun is in Alvarez's analysis of the times. For example, when Churchill was voted out as soon as the war was over, Alvarez says that this is due to the resentment the average joe soldier had for the officers, of which Churchill was the embodiment. He lived in some interesting times and his observations make for rewarding reading.

Has a wonderful command of language, subtle but so witty. Following him on his life journey is interesting because he refuses to be terribly judgmental. No incriminations/ recriminations. Much love in his heart.