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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man Hardback - 2000

by Joseph L. Heller

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Reader reviews for Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

From the publisher

In a front-page obituary, "The New York Times" described Joseph Heller as "the darkly surreal novelist who spoke to a generation." Heller, whose famous bestseller "Catch-22" brought him universal acclaim as a literary icon, finished his final novel just before his death in 1999. "Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man" is a poignant and fascinating foray into the mind of an artist as he examines his life, seeking a source of inspiration for his last book.

Imagine an author -- primarily a novelist -- who has become a legend...no, more than that -- an icon! In his own lifetime, all because of the first novel he wrote, many years before.

Imagine that the novelist -- his name here is Eugene Pota -- realizes that the days are dwindling and he needs to come up with one more novel. But what should he write about?

There's a kind of futility to his search for a subject, of course, because, like so many noted novelists before him, all of Pota's output since that first landmark novel has been scrutinized and dissected and poked at -- and found wanting. That first novel, the one that launched him, the one that made him into the cultural icon that he seems fated to remain, has become a touchstone for his life, and his life since has been pretty much a critical failure. Oh, there were some financial successes, some "New York Times" bestsellers, but nothing anyone seemed to like half as much as that first one. And now, when he's faced with the need, the compulsion to write one more novel, take one final stab at the even bigger one, what should it be?

"Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man" follows the journey that Eugene Pota undertakes in his effort to settle on the subject of hisfinal work. In his quest, he talks to his wife, Polly; he talks to his agent; he talks to his editor; he talks to old lovers; he even talks to his doctor. But while everyone has ideas, no one offers any real answers.

Along the way in his search, Heller -- through Pota -- pays homage to a number of favorite authors, including Samuel Clemens and Franz Kafka, and discusses the problems that have plagued so many writers in the past who enjoyed early successes and who then fell out of favor (among them, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, Jack London, and Joseph Conrad). And at one point Pota almost convinces himself of the futility of trying again, as he speaks to a college gathering on the subject "The Literature of Despair."

Written with sections that alternate between Eugene Pota's real-life efforts to settle on what novel to write and his many and various false starts on writing that novel, "Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man" is a rare and enthralling look into the artist's search for creativity.

Details

  • Title Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man
  • Author Joseph L. Heller
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 233
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Simon & Schuster, New York
  • Publication date 2000
  • ISBN 9780743202008 / 0743202007
  • Weight 0.89 lbs (0.40 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.82 x 5.94 x 0.9 in (22.40 x 15.09 x 2.29 cm)
  • Category Fiction - General
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 00711802
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

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Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man
Stock photo: cover may vary

Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man

by Heller, Joseph

  • Used
  • Hardback
  • first
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Fine copy in fine dust jacket
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1st
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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
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New York: Simon & Schuster. Fine copy in fine dust jacket. 2000. 1st. hardcover. 8vo, 233 pp. .
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Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man
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Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man

by Heller, Joseph

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Simon & Schuster. First Edition. Acceptable. With dust jacket. The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

by Joseph Heller

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
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Simon & Schuster, 2000. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

by Joseph Heller

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
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Simon & Schuster, 2000. Hardcover. Very Good. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

by Joseph Heller

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  • Hardback
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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
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Simon & Schuster, 2000. Hardcover. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

by Joseph Heller

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
Quantity available
1
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Item price
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Description:
Simon & Schuster, 2000. Hardcover. Very Good. Missing dust jacket; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A$9.15
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man
Stock photo: cover may vary

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

by Heller, Joseph

  • Used
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Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
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Description:
Simon & Schuster. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man
Stock photo: cover may vary

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man

by Heller, Joseph

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
Quantity available
1
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Item price
A$11.17
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Simon & Schuster. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Item price
A$11.17
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Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man
Stock photo: cover may vary

Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man

by Heller, Joseph

  • Used
  • Hardback
  • first
Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
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Simon & Schuster, 2000-06-12. First Edition. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.00x1.00x8.75. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man
Stock photo: cover may vary

Portrait of an Artist, As an Old Man

by Heller, Joseph

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardback
  • first
Condition
Good
Edition
First Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743202008 / 0743202007
Quantity available
1
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Description:
Simon & Schuster, 2000-06-12. First Edition. hardcover. Good. 8.9X6X1. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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Item price
A$11.78
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