Antic Hay –
Aldous Huxley
Huxley's second novel, published in 1923, is organized
around a group of Lost Generation types that we hardcore readers know best
probably through The Sun Also Rises.
Gumbril Jr. throws over his tedious job as a composition teacher and tries to
sell special pants with an inner tube in the seat to serve the market of thin guys whose bottoms are pained
sitting too long on hard benches and chairs. Myra Viveash calls to mind Lady Brett
Ashley with her debilitating line “Tomorrow will be as awful as today.” Coleman
is an out of control devil, cynically convinced sinning largely is a big bore
anyway. The biologist and exercise scientist Shearwater has lived an entirely
intellectual life so when he falls for Myra, as all men do, he falls absurdly
hard. His wife Rosie pathetically tries to play the woman of the world and pays
a high price when she meets Coleman. Lypiatt has lofty artistic ambitions but
only mediocre results as the mean critic and bon-vivant Mercaptan tirelessly
points out.
I think it’s worth reading, but then I like Huxley’s
novels of ideas. In this one, the characterization is more convincing than in
his other novels that I’ve read – yes, especially Brave New World. The lost souls are presented vividly and come out of
their post-WWI historical background persuasively. They are themselves, not
just dummies to mouth Huxley’s social and mystical views. Sure, his tone is ironic but touching are the pages about Gumbril Jr.’s mindless
rejection of genuine romantic contact with Emily.
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