Pilgrim: A Novel (Paperback)

~ Timothy Findley (Author) "Inside the front doors of the Burgholzli Psychiatric Clinic in Zurich, a nursed named Dora Henkel and an orderly whose name was Kessler were waiting..." (more)
Key Phrases: music bag, yellow wagon, violent ward, Mister Pilgrim, Lady Quartermaine, Carl Gustav (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Pilgrim is an entertaining book, as visual as the artists depicted in it." -- -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Beautiful writing and extraordinary invention." -- -- Chicago Tribune

"Findley is a thinking person's storyteller." -- -- Houston Chronicle

"Findley spins a fine tale...[his] powers of description are truly extraordinary. Pilgrim is an impressive creation." -- -- The Wall Street Journal

"Impressive." -- -- Denver Rocky Mountain News

"It's rare to find an author in which the moralist and the entertainer cohabit so naturally." -- -- New York Times Book Review

"Provocative." -- -- Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Soaring...[Pilgrim is] a gorgeously complex novel of ideas and a rousing good read." -- -- Ruminator Review

Product Description

On April 17, 1912 -- ironically, only two days after the sinking of the Titanic -- a figure known only as Pilgrim tries to commit suicide by hanging himself from a tree.  When he is found five hours later, his heart miraculously begins to beat again.  Pilgrim, it seems, can never die. Escorted by his beloved friend, Lady Sybil Quartermaine, Pilgrim is admitted to the famous Burgholzu Psychiatriac Clinic in Zurich, where he will begin a battle of psyche and soul with Carl Jung, the self-professed mystical scientist of the unconscious. Slowly, Jung coaxes Pilgrim to tell his astonishing story -- one that seemingly spans 4,000 years and includes such historical figures as Leonardo da Vinci and Henry James. But is Pilgrim delusional?  Are these his memories merely dreams...or is his immortal existence truly a miracle?

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (January 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060929375
• ISBN-13: 978-0060929374
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,934 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intellectually nimble, August 9, 2001

By	Louise Nelson (Idaho Falls, ID United States) - See all my reviews

I found Pilgrim to be a fascinating read. Part history, part psychology, part mystery, Pilgrim leads the reader on a circuitous journey. One needs to be intellectually nimble, to be able to suspend disbelief, and to have either a quick grasp of the wide historical range addressed...or have access to a good encyclopedia.

Pilgrim is a man/woman/spirit/consciousness who has been admitted to a Swiss psychiatric hospital because of his repeated suicide attempts. All attempts, though seeming at first to have succeeded, actually failed, thus "condemning" him, somewhat like Woolf's Orlando, to live forever.

His encounters with famous people throughout history constitute a remarkable chronicle of certain historical periods. His relationship with C.G. Jung, during the years when the latter was developing his theory of the collective unconscious, is particularly intriguing.

I couldn't categorize this book as history, biography, fantasy, psychiatry, psychology, mystery. It defies many of the basic "rules" of any one of these designations and may, therefore, cause some discomfort in a reader who prefers strict logic, easy-to-follow story line, or predictable form. But it's quite a ride for those interested in the exploratory!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spiritually enlivening, February 14, 2001

By A Customer

This work is entirely different from anything I've ever read. I appreciated the brooding tone of the story and the undercurrent of foreshadowing leading up to its climax. The ending was a little unorthodox and left me with a need for closure, however, I believe Findley does this purposefully as a way to compliment the mysterious and spiritual undertones of the plot. A comfortable, soothing read. Felt as if I were in a reverie, I could almost set it to music.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Canada's Gem, July 6, 2005

By	Bess Rex (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

If you're looking for a diversion or a fun, entertaining read that features a movie plot, you might want to skip this one. If you're looking for literature that actually challenges you, you should definitely consider this book. Mr. Findley's world is one of compelling ideas, fully-realized characters, and some of the best, atmospheric writing I have ever come across. It's not material you can digest right away. It's writing from which you'll gain more with each re-read.

The world lost one of its very best writers when Mr. Findley died. A tragedy for those of us Americans who had only just been introduced to him.