House Mother Normal
A Geriatric Comedy
Published on 14. February 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-4472-0038-3 (ISBN)
Description
With an introduction by poet Andrew Motion.
Eight residents in a home for the elderly sit down to dinner, along with the House Mother herself, and each takes it in turn to relay the proceedings of the evening from their own, individual perspective. By virtue of the novel's clever structure, the reader's comprehension of events is limited so as to allow them a powerful experience: Johnson's humorous yet deeply compassionate depiction of what it means to live life and grow old.
In his heyday, during the 1960s and early 1970s, B. S. Johnson was one of the best-known novelists in Britain. A passionate advocate for the avant-garde, he became famous for his forthright views on the future of the novel and for his unique ways of putting them into practice. House Mother Normal: A Geriatric Comedy is Johnson's most richly characterized, humane and sympathetic work.
Eight residents in a home for the elderly sit down to dinner, along with the House Mother herself, and each takes it in turn to relay the proceedings of the evening from their own, individual perspective. By virtue of the novel's clever structure, the reader's comprehension of events is limited so as to allow them a powerful experience: Johnson's humorous yet deeply compassionate depiction of what it means to live life and grow old.
In his heyday, during the 1960s and early 1970s, B. S. Johnson was one of the best-known novelists in Britain. A passionate advocate for the avant-garde, he became famous for his forthright views on the future of the novel and for his unique ways of putting them into practice. House Mother Normal: A Geriatric Comedy is Johnson's most richly characterized, humane and sympathetic work.
Reviews / Votes
Never sentimental, at once corrosive and elegiac, House Mother Normal is a remarkable achievement * New York Times * Don't think that because Johnson took stylistic risks that he must be unapproachable -- GuardianMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
275 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4472-0038-3 (9781447200383)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
In his heyday, during the 1960s and early 1970s, B. S. Johnson was one of the best-known novelists in Britain. His work includes Travelling People, Albert Angelo and House Mother Normal. A passionate advocate for the avant-garde in both literature and film, he became famous for his forthright views on the future of the novel and for his idiosyncratic ways of putting them into practice.