Arrow in the Blue (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The first volume of his autobiography covers the first 26 years of Koestler’s life, ending with his joining the Communist Party in 1931. Written with zest, joie de vivre and frankness, it is a fascinating self-portrait of a remarkable young man at the heart of the events that shaped the twentieth century. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Arthur Koestler was born in Budapest in 1905. He attended the university of Vienna before working as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, Berlin and Paris. For six years he was an active member of the Communist Party, and was captured by Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Arthur Koestler spent several months in a death cell during the Spanish Civil War, was sent in 1939 to a French concentration camp, then joined the Foreign Legion and escaped to England in 1940. He died in 1983 by suicide, having frequently expressed a belief in the right to euthanasia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 414 pages
• Publisher: Stein & Day Pub (August 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812862171
• ISBN-13: 978-0812862171
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,533,571 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Autobiography as a Work of Art, July 1, 2007

By	Michael (Hamburg, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arrow in the Blue (Paperback)

It is a mystery to me why this book doesn't have as many fans as it ought to, although considering Koestler's other works it is up against a lot of competition. Seldom have I been as captivated by an autobiography as I was with this one, what with the fascinating stories of Arthur's life interspersed with his unique perspectives on many questions of politics, psychology, religion, philosophy and more. An account of his life from 1905-31 in 415 pages, fans of Koestler's earlier works (pre 1952) will recognize a lot of material here though, as he often quotes from his own books where he obviously feels he's described something best. The accounts of his student life in the duelling fraternities of 1920s Vienna, his attempted settlement in Palestine, experiences as a journalist in pre-Hitler Berlin, travels in the Soviet Union in the early thirties, even a trip to the North Pole in the Graf Zeppelin are all equally absorbing. But it would just be another well-written autobiography if it wasn't for the unique wisdom and insight of Koestler, which shines through these pages, resulting in a book which is a must-read for both Koestler fans and the casual reader. It will no doubt leave you thirsting for part 2, The Invisible Writing (which covers 1932-40 in 526 pages), a more run-of-the-mill autobiography without as much of the philosophizing of part 1, but still enjoyable in its own right.