Carpenter’s Gothic
Carpenter’s Gothic by William Gaddis is a reprint edition published by Penguin on March 1, 1999, featuring 288 pages in English. This novel presents a story of comedy and despair, focusing on the tumultuous marriage between an heiress and a Vietnam veteran. Set in their “carpenter gothic” rented house, the narrative unfolds as Paul becomes a media consultant for Reverend Ude, an evangelist involved in a grand crusade that intersects with corporate interests in an ore strike tied to Ude’s African mission.
Readers will encounter a blend of humor and dark themes as the plot thickens around Paul, his wife Liz, and the enigmatic geologist McCandless, who complicates their lives. The story explores the dynamics of their relationships amidst escalating tensions, including a fire and an aborted assassination. Gaddis’s distinctive dialogue drives the narrative, showcasing his unique approach to violence and sexuality while delving into the complexities of human interaction. This edition invites readers to engage with the intricate layers of Gaddis’s storytelling.
Official synopsis Publisher
This story of raging comedy and despair centers on the tempestuous marriage of an heiress and a Vietnam veteran. From their “carpenter gothic” rented house, Paul sets himself up as a media consultant for Reverend Ude, an evangelist mounting a grand crusade that conveniently suits a mining combine bidding to take over an ore strike on the site of Ude’s African mission. At the still center of the breakneck action–revealed in Gaddis’s inimitable virtuoso dialoge—is Paul’s wife, Liz, and over it all looms the shadowy figure of McCandless, a geologist from whom Paul and Liz rent their house. As Paul mishandles the situation, his wife takes the geologist to her bed and a fire and aborted assassination occur; Ude issues a call to arms as harrowing as any Jeremiad–and Armageddon comes rapidly closer. Displaying Gaddis’s inimitable virtuoso dialogue, and his startling treatments of violence and sexuality, Carpenter’s Gothic “shows again that Gaddis is among the first rank of contemporary American writers” (Malcolm Bradbury, The Washington Post Book World).
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