The life of Saul Bellow : love and strife, 1965-2005

When this second volume of The Life of Saul Bellow opens, Bellow, at forty-nine, is at the pinnacle of American letters - rich, famous, critically acclaimed. The expected trajectory is one of decline: volume 1, rise; volume 2, fall. Bellow never fell, producing some of his greatest fiction ( Mr Sammler's Planet , Humboldt's Gift , all his best stories), winning two more National Book Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and the Nobel Prize. At eighty, he wrote his last story; at eighty-five, he wrote Ravelstein. In this volume, his life away from the desk, including his love life, is if anything more dramatic than in volume 1. In the public sphere, he is embroiled in controversy over foreign affairs, race, religion, education, social policy, the state of culture, the fate of the novel. Bellow's relations with women were often fraught. In the 1960s he was compulsively promiscuous (even as he inveighed against sexual liberation). The women he pursued, the ones he married and those with whom he had affairs, were intelligent, attractive and strong-willed. At eighty-five he fathered his fourth child, a daughter, with his fifth wife. His three sons, whom he loved, could be as volatile as he was, and their relations with their father were often troubled. Although an early and engaged supporter of civil rights, in the second half of his life Bellow was angered by the excesses of Black Power. An opponent of cultural relativism, he exercised great influence in literary and intellectual circles, advising a host of institutes and foundations, helping those he approved of, hindering those of whom he disapproved. In making his case, he could be cutting and rude; he could also be charming, loyal, and funny. Bellow's heroic energy and will are clear to the very end of his life. His immense achievement and its cost, to himself and others, are also clear. When This Second Volume Of The Life Of Saul Bellow Opens, Bellow, At Forty-nine, Is At The Pinnacle Of American Letters--rich, Famous, Critically Acclaimed. The Expected Trajectory Is One Of Decline: Volume 1, Rise; Volume 2, Fall. Bellow Never Fell, Producing Some Of His Greatest Fiction (mr. Sammler's Planet, Humboldt's Gift, All His Best Stories) And Winning Two More National Book Awards, A Pulitzer Prize, And The Nobel Prize. At Eighty, He Wrote His Last Story; At Eighty-five, He Wrote Ravelstein. In This Volume, His Life Away From The Desk, Including His Love Life, Is, If Anything, More Dramatic Than In Volume 1. In The Public Sphere, He Is Embroiled In Controversy Over Foreign Affairs, Race, Religion, Education, Social Policy, The State Of Culture, And The Fate Of The Novel. Bellow's Personal Life Was Often Fraught. In The 1960s He Was Compulsively Promiscuous (even As He Inveighed Against Sexual Liberation). The Women He Pursued, The Ones He Married And Those With Whom He Had Affairs, Were Intelligent, Attractive, And Strong-willed. At Eighty-five He Fathered His Fourth Child, A Daughter, With His Fifth Wife. His Three Sons, Whom He Loved, Could Be As Volatile As He Was, And Their Relations With Their Father Were Often Troubled. Few Writers Had Greater Influence In Literary And Intellectual Circles Than Bellow, Who Advised A Host Of Institutes And Foundations--helping Those He Approved Of, Hindering Those Of Whom He Disapproved. Although An Early And Outspoken Supporter Of Civil Rights, In The Second Half Of His Life He Was Angered By What He Saw As The Excesses Of Black Power; He Also Staunchly Opposed Cultural Relativism. In Making His Case, He Could Be Cutting And Rude; He Could Also Be Charming, Loyal, And Funny. Bellow's Heroic Energy And Will Are Clear To The Very End Of His Life. His Immense Achievement And Its Cost, To Himself And Others, Are Also Clear.--dust Jacket. Fame And Politics In The 1960s -- All My Ladies Seem Furious -- Bad Behavior -- A Better Man -- Distraction/divorce/anthroposophy -- The Chicago Book And The Dean's December -- Nadir -- Janis Freedman/allan Bloom/politics -- To Seventy-five -- Papuans And Zulus -- Intensive Care -- Ravelstein -- Love And Strife. Zachary Leader. This Is A Borzoi Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. When this second volume of The Life of Saul Bellow opens, Bellow, at forty-nine, is at the pinnacle of American letters - rich, famous, critically acclaimed. The expected trajectory is one of decline: volume 1, rise; volume 2, fall. Bellow never fell, producing some of his greatest fiction (Mr Sammler's Planet, Humboldt's Gift, all his best stories), winning two more National Book Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and the Nobel Prize. At eighty, he wrote his last story; at eighty-five, he wrote Ravelstein. In this volume, his life away from the desk, including his love life, is if anything more dramatic than in volume 1. In the public sphere, he is embroiled in controversy over foreign affairs, race, religion, education, social policy, the state of culture, the fate of the novel.00Bellow's relations with women were often fraught. In the 1960s he was compulsively promiscuous (even as he inveighed against sexual liberation). The women he pursued, the ones he married and those with whom he had affairs, were intelligent, attractive and strong-willed. At eighty-five he fathered his fourth child, a daughter, with his fifth wife. His three sons, whom he loved, could be as volatile as he was, and their relations with their father were often troubled.00Although an early and engaged supporter of civil rights, in the second half of his life Bellow was angered by the excesses of Black Power. An opponent of cultural relativism, he exercised great influence in literary and intellectual circles, advising a host of institutes and foundations, helping those he approved of, hindering those of whom he disapproved. In making his case, he could be cutting and rude; he could also be charming, loyal, and funny. Bellow's heroic energy and will are clear to the very end of his life. His immense achievement and its cost, to himself and others, are also clear "Based on much heretofore unavailable archival material and access to close relations, and extraordinary for the diligence of its scholarship, the unsparingness of its scope, and the engaging clarity of its prose, this booktraces not only Bellow's rise to literary eminence--from the roots of his family in St. Petersburg, Russia, to his birth and childhood in Quebec to his years in Chicago and at the University of Chicago, to right before the breakout commercial success of his novel Herzog in 1964--but also Bellow's life away from the desk, which was rich with incident. In the mornings he wrote; in the afternoons, he went out and got into trouble. Often this trouble involved women--spirited, intelligent, beautiful women. And more: throughout we are given fresh and fulsome readings of Bellow's work, from his early writings and debut novel Dangling Man to Herzog"--