- Paperback: 144 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (Aug 1969)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140026029
- ISBN-13: 978-0140026023
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,736,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
A Single Man (Vintage Classics)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Independent
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
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Guardian
This mix of humour and stoicism in the face of pent-up grief is essential Isherwood
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 35 people found the following review helpful
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.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
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
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
And really - that's about it apart from(spoilers below) He's a truly likeable guy, and towards the end of the book he's feeling optimistic about life. He had a lovely drunken evening first with a neighbour and then with a student friend, skinny dipping and a lot of drink. It's difficult to tell whether anything happened, but I don't think it did. He goes to bed at the end of his 24 hours feeling that it was time that he moved on with his life and that he was ready to look for love again. What would have been far more realistic and upbeat would have been if Isherwood had left it there. It would have been lovely to think that's what George does next. But - whether for literary merit - or for the tradition that - in books of this period - all gay guys MUST die at the end - he doesn't. And it was the ending that spoiled it for me and made me want to throw the book across the room, and made it lose a five star ranking.
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.
And really - that's about it apart from(spoilers below) He's a truly likeable guy, and towards the end of the book he's feeling optimistic about life. He had a lovely drunken evening first with a neighbour and then with a student friend, skinny dipping and a lot of drink. It's difficult to tell whether anything happened, but I don't think it did. He goes to bed at the end of his 24 hours feeling that it was time that he moved on with his life and that he was ready to look for love again. What would have been far more realistic and upbeat would have been if Isherwood had left it there. It would have been lovely to think that's what George does next. But - whether for literary merit - or for the tradition that - in books of this period - all gay guys MUST die at the end - he doesn't. And it was the ending that spoiled it for me and made me want to throw the book across the room, and made it lose a five star ranking.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 4 months ago by joevascotia
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 13 months ago by andy1980
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 16 months ago by Jay
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 16 months ago by Aquatron
It's all a bit childish
Is this novella a masterpiece? It's certainly well written, but I'm not sure it's much more than that. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Rusty
A Single Man
So good to receive the book so quickly having been inspired after seeing this incredible film. Glad I did it that way round. Read more
Published on 7 May 2010 by B. J. Reeks
Stunning
I didn't know Isherwood but seeing Tom Ford's movie version made me want to read the book and I certainly was not disappointed. Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2010 by The Grenouille
Witty, intelligent and thought-provoking
A beautiful novella describing one single day in the life of a college lecturer during the Cuban missile crisis. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by Alan Milligan
Read this, now tell me, who did you see?
The scenario was a book club, the book randomly taken from the Amazon top 100 fiction chart. First out of the hat was A Single Man, ranked fifty six at the time. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2010 by J. Potter
Christopher Isherwood - A Single Man
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... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2010 by RachelWalker
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