Celebrated as a masterpiece from its first publication, A Single Man is the story of George Falconer, an English professor in suburban California left heartbroken after the death of his lover, Jim. With devastating clarity and humour, Christopher Isherwood shows George's determination to carry on, evoking the unexpected pleasures of life as well as the soul's ability to triumph over loneliness and alienation. (19970421)
A Single Man (Vintage Classics)
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Review
The best prose writer in English (Gore Vidal )
A virtuoso piece of work...courageous...powerful (Sunday Times )
His key post-war work. A quarter-century ahead of its time in its portrayal of a quotidian homosexual life, it inspired a generation of gay writers in Britain and the US (Independent )
Lyrical and intensely moving (Daily Telegraph )
A testimony to Isherwood's undiminished brilliance as a novelist (Anthony Burgess )
A virtuoso piece of work...courageous...powerful (Sunday Times )
His key post-war work. A quarter-century ahead of its time in its portrayal of a quotidian homosexual life, it inspired a generation of gay writers in Britain and the US (Independent )
Lyrical and intensely moving (Daily Telegraph )
A testimony to Isherwood's undiminished brilliance as a novelist (Anthony Burgess )
Review
His key postwar work. A quarter-century ahead of its time in its portrayal of a quotidian homosexual life, it inspired a generation of gay writers in Britain and the US - Independent This mix of humour and stoicism in the face of pent-up grief is essential Isherwood --Guardian
His own highly personal form of fiction [is one] in which simple sentences strike a note of great intimacy with the reader as if to a close personal friend, and a sense of total honesty is sought. This style, witty, observant, nostalgic, exact, was Isherwood's great contribution to modern literature --Financial Times
He had dazzling talents as a writer. His literary production was pre-eminent for its wit, humour, charm of style and narrative skill... A Single Man can be almost considered as his masterpiece --Guardian, John Lehmann
Very sad and yet at times wildly funny --The Daily Telegraph
An absolutely devastating, unnerving, brilliant book --Stephen Spender
Lyrical and intensely moving --Daily Telegraph --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
His own highly personal form of fiction [is one] in which simple sentences strike a note of great intimacy with the reader as if to a close personal friend, and a sense of total honesty is sought. This style, witty, observant, nostalgic, exact, was Isherwood's great contribution to modern literature --Financial Times
He had dazzling talents as a writer. His literary production was pre-eminent for its wit, humour, charm of style and narrative skill... A Single Man can be almost considered as his masterpiece --Guardian, John Lehmann
Very sad and yet at times wildly funny --The Daily Telegraph
An absolutely devastating, unnerving, brilliant book --Stephen Spender
Lyrical and intensely moving --Daily Telegraph --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By c westwood
Format:Paperback
Isherwood's writing had as many ups and downs as a rollercoaster, which he would have been the first to admit, but this is (I think) the rose amongst the thorns that were his 'middle' books - a sensitive, heart warming and tender depiction of the life of a middle aged, gay male in mid-century America. This was the first of his books I read, and lead me to read all the others.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Gail Cooke
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
If you have not read Christopher Isherwood you have missed the work of a brilliant author. This particular book was praised by the NY Times as "...a sad, sly report on the predicament of the human animal." Isherwood's prose is spare, mesmerizing; his words well chosen, succinct, meaningful. Most importantly, his writings are true.
When first published about a half century ago A SINGLE MAN was considered shocking as it portrayed for the first time the life of a gay man, George, who was recently bereaved and trying to adjust to life without his partner. George is a college professor, careful, thoughtful. The all too brief story covers just 24 hours from the moment he awakens in the morning and remembers that he has lost his partner to his studied, sometimes painful navigation of the day.
We are privy not only to his actions but to his thoughts, thus we share his predicament, a very human one. George is an Englishman living in southern California, a place a bit inhospitable to a middle-aged scholar yet he perseveres by observing routine. Haven't many of us found ourselves left with that as our one means of coping? For this reader/listener that is the beauty of Isherwood as A SINGLE MAN is not solely a drama of gay life but of all humanity.
Reader Simon Prebble gives voice to George with understanding, and skillful narration. British born his voice is perfectly suited for this role.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the hugely successful movie version of A SINGLE MAN by Tom Ford - don't miss this. And hearty recommendations also for Isherwood's Christopher and His Kind and Prater Violet also found on audio from HighBridge.
- Gail Cooke
When first published about a half century ago A SINGLE MAN was considered shocking as it portrayed for the first time the life of a gay man, George, who was recently bereaved and trying to adjust to life without his partner. George is a college professor, careful, thoughtful. The all too brief story covers just 24 hours from the moment he awakens in the morning and remembers that he has lost his partner to his studied, sometimes painful navigation of the day.
We are privy not only to his actions but to his thoughts, thus we share his predicament, a very human one. George is an Englishman living in southern California, a place a bit inhospitable to a middle-aged scholar yet he perseveres by observing routine. Haven't many of us found ourselves left with that as our one means of coping? For this reader/listener that is the beauty of Isherwood as A SINGLE MAN is not solely a drama of gay life but of all humanity.
Reader Simon Prebble gives voice to George with understanding, and skillful narration. British born his voice is perfectly suited for this role.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the hugely successful movie version of A SINGLE MAN by Tom Ford - don't miss this. And hearty recommendations also for Isherwood's Christopher and His Kind and Prater Violet also found on audio from HighBridge.
- Gail Cooke
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Erastes
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I told a friend about this book, I said "it's very well written" and she said "Well, der! Isherwood!" and I laughed. But then I've only read Goodbye to Berlin and I was very young then, and didn't know good from bad.
It's possibly one of the most perfect little books I've read, absorbing from the first page and written in such a way that it feels like first person but it's actually written in third, astoundingly clever to my eyes. You get as easily into George's head as if it were first person.
Set over 24 hours, it simply covers his thought processes as he moves through the day and you learn a lot about him and the world in which he lives. From the first section he touches your heart as - as anyone who has suffered bereavement will understand - he wakes up and remembers again that his lover is dead. But he's not pessimistic about his outlook - he doesn't like the way that conservatism is encroaching upon the once bohemian area where he lives - once where there was artists and poets and easy sexual values, families are moving in, with more straight-laced ideals, but in juxtaposition to this, he loves youth.
He teaches at the University and the scenes with the Gidget-era youth are rather sweet and truly give a window into a lost American world. He does watch the athletes for his own enjoyment which was a nice touch.
I loved his optimism, despite how much he missed Jim, and the way that he finds the light and the dark in his life. He interacts with many people throughout the day, he's not at all an isolated person, but I was left feeling that he was spinning on the spot, lonely despite all the people who know and care from him. Without the one intimate friend he needed.... Read more ›
It's possibly one of the most perfect little books I've read, absorbing from the first page and written in such a way that it feels like first person but it's actually written in third, astoundingly clever to my eyes. You get as easily into George's head as if it were first person.
Set over 24 hours, it simply covers his thought processes as he moves through the day and you learn a lot about him and the world in which he lives. From the first section he touches your heart as - as anyone who has suffered bereavement will understand - he wakes up and remembers again that his lover is dead. But he's not pessimistic about his outlook - he doesn't like the way that conservatism is encroaching upon the once bohemian area where he lives - once where there was artists and poets and easy sexual values, families are moving in, with more straight-laced ideals, but in juxtaposition to this, he loves youth.
He teaches at the University and the scenes with the Gidget-era youth are rather sweet and truly give a window into a lost American world. He does watch the athletes for his own enjoyment which was a nice touch.
I loved his optimism, despite how much he missed Jim, and the way that he finds the light and the dark in his life. He interacts with many people throughout the day, he's not at all an isolated person, but I was left feeling that he was spinning on the spot, lonely despite all the people who know and care from him. Without the one intimate friend he needed.... Read more ›
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By RachelWalker
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
meditative, moving, thoughtful, poignant. A short, powerful novel; a gentle rumination on death and life, alienation and the small pleasures you can get from simply living, even when tragedy strikes. I wasn't expecting something quite like this, after The Berlin Novels, as this is very different in tone, much more elegaic. If anything, as good as Goodbye to Berlin is, this is even more accomplishedly written, and is certainly more beautiful, in a restrained, reserved way. Highly recommended. (I haven't seen the film, I'm not a film fan, but after reading this I just might.)
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Erastes
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I told a friend about this book, I said "it's very well written" and she said "Well, der! Isherwood!" and I laughed. But then I've only read Goodbye to Berlin and I was very young then, and didn't know good from bad.
It's possibly one of the most perfect little books I've read, absorbing from the first page and written in such a way that it feels like first person but it's actually written in third, astoundingly clever to my eyes. You get as easily into George's head as if it were first person.
Set over 24 hours, it simply covers his thought processes as he moves through the day and you learn a lot about him and the world in which he lives. From the first section he touches your heart as - as anyone who has suffered bereavement will understand - he wakes up and remembers again that his lover is dead. But he's not pessimistic about his outlook - he doesn't like the way that conservatism is encroaching upon the once bohemian area where he lives - once where there was artists and poets and easy sexual values, families are moving in, with more straight-laced ideals, but in juxtoposition to this, he loves youth.
He teaches at the University and the scenes with the Gidget-era youth are rather sweet and truly give a window into a lost American world. He does watch the athletes for his own enjoyment which was a nice touch.
I loved his optimism, despite how much he missed Jim, and the way that he finds the light and the dark in his life. He interacts with many people throughout the day, he's not at all an isolated person, but I was left feeling that he was spinning on the spot, lonely despite all the people who know and care from him. Without the one intimate friend he needed.... Read more ›
It's possibly one of the most perfect little books I've read, absorbing from the first page and written in such a way that it feels like first person but it's actually written in third, astoundingly clever to my eyes. You get as easily into George's head as if it were first person.
Set over 24 hours, it simply covers his thought processes as he moves through the day and you learn a lot about him and the world in which he lives. From the first section he touches your heart as - as anyone who has suffered bereavement will understand - he wakes up and remembers again that his lover is dead. But he's not pessimistic about his outlook - he doesn't like the way that conservatism is encroaching upon the once bohemian area where he lives - once where there was artists and poets and easy sexual values, families are moving in, with more straight-laced ideals, but in juxtoposition to this, he loves youth.
He teaches at the University and the scenes with the Gidget-era youth are rather sweet and truly give a window into a lost American world. He does watch the athletes for his own enjoyment which was a nice touch.
I loved his optimism, despite how much he missed Jim, and the way that he finds the light and the dark in his life. He interacts with many people throughout the day, he's not at all an isolated person, but I was left feeling that he was spinning on the spot, lonely despite all the people who know and care from him. Without the one intimate friend he needed.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
not one of his best
It was an ok read, but was too disjointed for my liking and did'nt flow as well as his others
Published 3 months ago by Trevor Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Single Man's Beautiful Tale of Lost Love
After watching Tom Ford's beautifully screened adaptation, I had high expectations that Isherwood's novel would have carried through this beauty through to paper. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J.Speake
3.0 out of 5 stars
Well...
Poor George... intellectually privileged, a homosexual in times of changes. The book isn't exactly gripping, but nevertheless, quite interesting. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stefan Medeiros
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing little book
This is a wonderful piece of writing-with a much more powerful story than the film. Beautifully written; gripping story from the first paragraph to the last page!
Published 8 months ago by P. J. Leeson
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books I have ever read.
A Single Man, a short poignant novel; as it muses upon life and death, appreciates the simple small pleasures of live and survival upon bereavement. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Holly
5.0 out of 5 stars
The power of now
What a beautiful book! One of the earliest unashamedly gay novels - no apologies, no neurosis - it is superbly written. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Pensato
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
I'd never heard of Isherwood (I know, where have I been?) before I got this book for Christmas. I must say that it is a charming little book, and one which proves you don't need an... Read more
Published 17 months ago by joevascotia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant book in my view
This is a moving and eloquent book. If you like Christopher Isherwood, then I'm sure you'll love the book. Read more
Published on 18 April 2011 by andy1980
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth Reading ...
I found this book one of the best books I've ever read. I think Isherwood managed to stitch you into following one day of George's life and his memories and thoughts. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2011 by Jay
3.0 out of 5 stars
Miserable Introspection
Bought this after seeing the ravishingly beautiful film with Colin Firth. No I didn't expect it to be the same but there is so little in the book compared to the film and it's... Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2011 by Aquatron
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