The Magnificent Ambersons (Dover Value Editions)
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The Ambersons are the embodiment of the "old" American aristocracy and, at least at the outset, their world and their position in it both seem solid, secure and permanent. The book does a marvelous job of depicting this older society, both in its heyday and as it rapidly disappears, including its elegance, its foibles and its arrogance.
It does so not only through an on-going account of the city itself which is a character in its own right , but through the Amberson family and the character of George Amberson Minafer, seeming scion of the most prominent local family, and cursed with the presumptions and arrogance of his position.
Through the book, the family in general, and George in particular, experience a precipitous fall, as we see the old regime give way to money, industry, and, as George would say, "riff-raff. George, his mother, old Major Amberson, the Morgans the new generation of successful industrial inventor and manufacturer , and George's Aunt Fanny. On the Amberson side, it would be easy for Tarkington to make some of the characters thoroughly despicable, and we certainly have little enough sympathy at times for George and Fanny. George is often absolutely hateful, and rather funny in his presumptions; Fanny is a work of art.
But it is one of the exceptional qualities of the book that we never entirely despise even these flawed and unlikable characters. We understand them and ultimately empathize with them, and we not only believe in but also celebrate their ultimate "redemption. Again, however, Tarkington does a marvelous job in creating a kind of nostalgia for things lost, and also offering some promise dark though it may be for the future to come, combining both "progress" and, just possibly, some of the more enduring values of the past.
Perhaps the greatest thing about the novel is the author's tone. He is an ironic observer and accurate reporter throughout, but the book and his prose is infused with a certain humor, warmth, understanding and compassion that makes this a tender portrait, even at its most critical.
Further, at the close of the book, Tarkington accomplishes something remarkable.
9780486449333 - The Magnificent Ambersons (Dover Value Editions) by Booth Tarkington
Through the almost transcendent powers of love and forgiveness the supernatural is rather amusingly invoked , the remaining characters are brought together and reconciled, and we do believe that they have come through and may have been redeemed. Overall, this is a fine book that deserves to be more widely read.
It is an impressive portrait of America in transition and the American character in the early 20th century. One comment as to the edition. I bought the paperback that I believe is advertised here and it is one of the strangest editions I have ever seen. It appears it is virtually printed to order, includes no publishing history, and consists of some of the smallest and hardest to read print imaginable.
Honestly, it is incredibly hard on the eyes so that you are really pleased to see pages of dialogue that at least break up the print. The proofreading or typesetting jobs also leave something to be desired. Rather than buying this funky paperback, I would try to find an older, used hardback edition. It could only be an improvement. This book is a Pulitzer Prize winner in I believe-maybe it was I enjoyed the book, which basically depicts the rise and fall of an American family around the turn-of-the-century.
The Ambersons were high society, and came from a creative and sharp grandfather whose business acumen built their fortune. But as time moved inexorably forward, things changed and their fortune and their prestige deteriorated. I really enjoyed some of the descriptions of turn-of-the-century living and expectations that were noted in the book. I recommend this book if you enjoy period literature. One person found this helpful. See all reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers.
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The Magnificent Ambersons
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Amazon Inspire Digital Educational Resources. Rather than buying this funky paperback, I would try to find an older, used hardback edition. Did you know that since , Biblio has used its profits to build 12 public libraries in rural villages of South America? Kindle Cloud Reader Read instantly in your browser. Amazon Music Stream millions of songs. That is probably what earned him an award.
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The Magnificent Ambersons Booth Tarkington. Mediaoutletdeal1 , Virginia, United States Seller rating: Ergodebooks , Texas, United States Seller rating: Used book in very good condition. Some cover wear, may contain a few marks. Ex-library with the usual stamps. Ships with Tracking Number! May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service! We're sorry - this copy is no longer available.
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eBook; Sale Price › $ "The Magnificent Ambersons is perhaps Tarkington's best novel," wrote critic Van Wyck Brooks. "[It is] a typical Reprint of the Doubleday, Page & Company, Garden City, New York, edition. The Magnificent Ambersons (Dover Value Editions) [Booth Tarkington] on www.farmersmarketmusic.com *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Magnificent Ambersons is.
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