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The Great American Novel Paperback – April 11, 1995

by Philip Roth (Author)

36 customer reviews

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Gil Gamesh, the only pitcher who ever literally tried to kill the umpire. The ex-con first baseman, John Baal, "The Babe Ruth of the Big House," who never hit a home run sober. If you've never heard of them—or of the Ruppert Mundys, the only homeless big-league ball team in American history—it's because of the Communist plot, and the capitalist scandal, that expunged the entire Patriot League from baseball memory.

In this ribald, richly imagined, and wickedly satiric novel, Roth turns baseball's status as national pastime and myth into an occasion for unfettered picaresque farce, replete with heroism and perfidy, ebullient wordplay and a cast of characters that includes the House Un-American Activities Committee.

The Great American Novel

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Shameless comic extravagance.... Roth gleefully exploits our readiness to let baseball stand for America itself." —The New York Times

"Roth invents baseball anew, as pure slapstick.... An awesome performance." —The New Republic

"Roth is better than he's ever been before.... The prose is electric." —The Atlantic

From the Inside Flap

Gil Gamesh, the only pitcher who ever literally tried to kill the umpire. The ex-con first baseman, John Baal, "The Babe Ruth of the Big House," who never hit a home run sober. If you've never heard of them--or of the Ruppert Mundys, the only homeless big-league ball team in American history--it's because of the Communist plot, and the capitalist scandal, that expunged the entire Patriot League from baseball memory.
In this ribald, richly imagined, and wickedly satiric novel, Roth turns baseball's status as national pastime and myth into an occasion for unfettered picaresque farce, replete with heroism and perfidy, ebullient wordplay and a cast of characters that includes the House Un-American Activities Committee.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Series: Vintage International
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (April 11, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0679749063
ISBN-13: 978-0679749066
Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 36 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #20152 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

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5 star		59%
4 star		25%
3 star		8%
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1 star		8%

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Top customer reviews

Four Stars

ByBarbara Levitton November 21, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Philip Roth one of my favorite writers. The book was excellent. Witty, informative, and lots of info.

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Hilarious

ByRobert Watsonon July 8, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is the funniest book Philip Roth wrote. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard before. It might help if you're a baseball fan, but even if you know nothing about baseball, you can still enjoy this book. It's really more about a bygone era ( the 1920-40's ) than it is about baseball.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A good read for baseball historians

ByDonald Rayon May 11, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A good read for baseball historians, or nuts as we are called. Alliteration, humor, off color stories, fantasy, you name it, this one has it. Once you get past the ramblings of Word Smith, you have it made.

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Five Stars

ByAmazon Customeron September 24, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

One of the best sports parades of all time

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Five Stars

ByAmazon Customeron January 24, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

one of Roth's best

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Five Stars

Bydcrunchon December 13, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

great gift

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One of the funniest books ever written

Bymyshopperon January 23, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I have read this book dozens of times - I used to read it every spring when baseball season starts! It is so funny! One of my all time favorite books!

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Five Stars

ByJulia Kincyon May 3, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I loved it!

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Most recent customer reviews

Almost cost me my bar exam

I was supposed to be studying for my bar exam, but couldn't. I'd picked up this book and couldn't stop reading it.Read more

Published 9 months ago by Bruce Banner

Huh?

Roth is one the greatest writers of all time but I'm not sure what this is.

Published 1 year ago by john seegers

While I admire a great deal of Roth's work

While I admire a great deal of Roth's work, this book is just plain boring. It is hard for me to believe that Roth wrote this garbage.Read more

Published on August 5, 2015 by Theodore S. Sotinsky

A sophomoric spoof at best.

If I hadn't have known that Roth had written it I'd never have guessed. Not only is it poorly written and constructed it has virtually nothing meaningful to say.Read more

Published on August 2, 2015 by drjerry

For all those people who wonder why you can't run the wrong way round the bases and still make it home safe

I'm a fan of baseball basically due to marriage, as my spouse is a near lifelong fan of the local pinstriped team and as such my shelf of "stories about baseball" consists...Read more

Published on April 14, 2015 by Michael Battaglia

Five Stars

Another homerun for Roth!

Published on January 1, 2015 by Stephen A. Whiteheadjr

High literatoor and tall tales with balls

A religious phantasy about sacred American mythology: baseball and McCarthy.
A master of alliteration, Word Smith, aka Smitty, rants away at the great conspiracy in...Read more

Published on December 10, 2014 by H. Schneider

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