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A Special Providence

By Richard Yates

(2)

| Others | 9780099518631

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Book Description

This novel describes post-war America, at odds with its identity, striving to combineprosperity and ideals, mercilessly exposed in the attempt to do so.

Critics

A member of the awkward squad

On an autumn Saturday in 1944 Private Robert Prentice, an 18-year-old rifleman trainee, makes a long journey from his camp in Virginia to New York City, to see his mother. He is soon to be sent abroad, France most likely, and there he’ll see action, ... (read full critics)

spectator published on Fri, 17 Sep 2010

A member of the awkward squad

On an autumn Saturday in 1944 Private Robert Prentice, an 18-year-old rifleman trainee, makes a long journey from his camp in Virginia to New York City, to see his mother. He is soon to be sent abroad, France most likely, and there he’ll see action, ... (read full critics)

spectator published on Mon, 13 Sep 2010

1 Review

Three novels in one. The normal story of a single mother and his young soldier child in the Second World War. The two characters are pure Yates, but the story, especially in the war bits, does not go on so well as in American-province, revolutionary-roadish Yates style.
Though, the description of A ... (continue)

Three novels in one. The normal story of a single mother and his young soldier child in the Second World War. The two characters are pure Yates, but the story, especially in the war bits, does not go on so well as in American-province, revolutionary-roadish Yates style.
Though, the description of Alice's adventures across the USA trying to find a house and some money to carry on, frustrated by her unexpressed artistic talent, makes me think to the other epic Yates women of Easter Parade and Revolutionary Road.
The rare successes are left in the epilogue, and Alice is always alone, with the only company of the ever-present bottle of Scotch.

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