Customer Reviews

The Wild Party: The Lost Classic by Joseph Moncure March

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The wild party is a brilliant poem that pre-empts the beats' sense of rhythm and love for the low-down and dirty elements of modern life. Even though it was written six decades ago, it is fantastically modern. With a pulsuating, driving style that includes violence, humour and excitement, The Wild Party grips the reader from beginning to end. Spielgelman's illustrations, although nice and evocative, do not match the pure intensity of the writing. Well done to Spielgelman for finding this 'lost classic' and re-publishing it (although on the spine his name gets top billing which seem a little self-centred seeing as the books power lies entirely in the words, not the pictures. Indeed the writing is so bitingly vivid that the pictures are unneeded). I have read this book over a hundred times and it never fails to quicken my pulse and ressurect my love for poetry.

Like many people, I picked up this book after seeing one of the two musicals in New York based on it last year (the LaChiusa one on Broadway, in my case). I thought both shows were highly enjoyable, and was pleased to learn that a good deal of their success could be attributed directly to the source material. March's poem (if it can indeed be called that) itself provides a brief but memorable glimpse into the darkest corners of a dangerous era.

The story, such as it is, concerns the unhealthy relationship between two vaudeville performers, Queenie and Burrs, which comes to a head when they throw the party of the title. Among the guests are a number of people who have lived the high life for so long that they are no longer able to put their emotions in perspective -- they hurt each other and are hurt, but appear unable to learn from their mistakes. Naturally, the party ends with a mistake that is completely irrevocable and devastating.

The piece would be compelling even without Art Spiegelman's perfect illustrations. With them, this is a book that shouldn't be missed.

This was a brilliant work from days gone past. Oddly, the story could happen as easily today as it did when written, the only difference being that the censored content of yesterday would be praiseworthy subtlty today.

As the backcover quotation reads, it made William S. Boroughs "want to be a writer." It made me wonder why I can't find his second book. It should be noted that the illustrations by Art Spielgelman clearly add to the aura of the consuming experiece.

I highly recommend this book that can be read in under an hour. Give it to poetry haters. They can access the work thouugh the tough sexy voice and may enjoy poetry as might have been impossible before.

A brilliant piece of writing. I truly enjoyed this book.March has created a vivid world with a minimal amount of words and a very interesting style of poetry. I don't know that I've ever read an extended poem (for lack of a better word, it doesn't really qualify as an epic) that had me so involved and so interested in the story being told. The illustrations are amazing in this edition of the book as well. Highly recommended!

The menacing illustrations are good in and of themselves... the sometimes doggerlic, pulpy, but horribly compelling poem of fast living and decadence is good in and of itself... but when you encounter them together they produce a reading experience that transcends the sum of its parts. Brilliantly evokes a romanticized vision of the lost vice dens of the jazz age.

This wonderful narration of one truly wild party sparks the imagination of unforgettable nights. It is written in a style that lends itself to being read aloud, as the dramatic content is high. Art Speigelman's illustrations make this night one book to remember, and add to the collection. This book will remind everyone of the night that they let their hair down and partied like the never had before, only to have to face the consequences.

A tone poem of the seedy side of life that evokes such wonderful visual imagery that it will not be easily forgotten. The new illustrations are excellent but almost unnecessay because of the strong imagery.

I decided to buy this book for no other reason than that I loved the 1949 Robert Wise film, "The Set-up", and wanted to check out the other book written by the original story's author, Joseph Moncure March. Certainly the brief description of the book made it even easier to buy.

But now having read it in one sitting, I was blown away at how brilliant it was! The poetic style is very easy to get into, and its use to tell this gripping tale was amazing. It never seems forced in the least, but flows well and succeed's in pulling the reader into the party itself.

The characters are great, the kind that one wishes to know of some more. Queenie remains the center of the story, and rightfully so, she is the most developed and most fascinating.

Apparently this book was banned in Boston, and I guess it is understandable given the times. Still, even today the story maintains a kind of rawness and edge that stays with the reader.

I have not seen the move or the Broadway plays, and chances are won't, the original poem is more than satisfying enough for me.

Very very hghly recommended.

I bought this book in Prague and read it in one sitting in a refurbished pre-War coffee shop. What an experience! The syncopation will stick with you long after reading. The telegraphic style punches hard with some raw belly-laugh humor. The experience of reading this book is as disorienting as the party and life-style itself. According to the jacket cover, reading this book is what prompted Williams S. Burroughs to take up writing. I can believe it. This is an experience not to be missed.

I bought the book after seeing the Manhattan Theatre Company's production of the musical version (which was fantastic). It was good to read the original source material, and see how the play was shaped, based on March's words.