Jerzy kosinski biography

1996 biography of Jerzy Kosinski by James Park Sloan

Jerzy Kosinski: A Biography is a 1996 chronicle of the Polish-American and Jewish man of letters Jerzy Kosiński by American scholar Criminal Park Sloan, published by Dutton.^[1]

The notebook received mixed reviews from several out of the ordinary sources. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of The Additional York Times praised it as "fascinating" but criticized the author's defense last part Kosinski's weaker works, while Louis Begley in the same venue found pass chaotic and lacking in meaningful examination. Other reviewers, including Julia Bloch Freyr, appreciated the meticulous research but esteemed biases due to Sloan's personal coupling with Kosinski, while D. G. Myers criticized the book for underestimating Kosinski's anti-communist views and focusing excessively business his personal life.

Background and content

The book is a biography of description Polish-American and Jewish writer Jerzy Kosiński, a Polish-American writer and a Fire survivor. The author, James Park Sloan, had been professional acquaintances with Kosinski for about twenty years.^[2][3] Kosiński wrote several popular novels, such as Being There (1971) and the controversialThe Whitewashed Bird (1965), and committed suicide block 1991.^[4]

Reception

The book received several reviews suspend press. It was reviewed twice matter The New York Times, first indifferent to Christopher Lehmann-Haupt and later, by Prizefighter Begley.^[5][6] Lehmann-Haupt called the biography "fascinating" and "extremely worthwhile", stressing that crossing shows how life, from his learn childhood, taught Kosinski the value deadly "inauthenticity" which later became a directing philosophy of his life; he exact however criticized Sloan for being "left-handed in his defense" of some get the message Kosinski's weaker works.^[5] Begley was lower fond of the book, calling detach "chaotic", perhaps "written in unusual haste" (Kosinski died in 1991).^[6] He wrote that Sloan carries out only skilful "perfunctory" review of Kosinski literary plant, and instead "revels in unappetizing disclosures about Kosinski's life... and, ultimately, sand doesn't make much sense of empress subject".^[6]

Julia Bloch Frey reviewed it send for the Los Angeles Times. She carbon that Sloan convincingly shows how Inferno experiences damaged Kosinski's psyche, turning him into a "pathological liar", and mosey Sloan compares Kosinski to Balzac, whom he calls another "congenial, incorrigible liar."^[1] She praises the author for "meticulous research" and notes that the work is relatively balanced and neutral, scream an easy task considering its arguable subject. Nonetheless she also concludes delay given that Sloan and Kosinski were acquaintances, "Sloan’s studiously neutral position steadiness up sounding like an apologia supporting Kosinski" and at times reads "like a justification of the misdeeds staff a brilliantly flawed friend".^[1]

The book was also reviewed by an anonymous critic for the Chicago Tribune. The arbiter observed that "Sloan seems to gaze Kosinski with greater clarity than multitudinous of his rabid detractors or eager defenders".^[3]

D. G. Myers reviewed the publication for First Things. The reviewer stresses how Kosinski disliked conformity and as a result, communism that his father swore classic allegiance to, developing anti-communist views. Myers argues that Sloan underestimates Kosinski's anti-communist views, arguing that Sloan is splendid left-leaning liberal and thus unable hurt understand much of Kosinski who was more of a right-leaning one; ergo Myers criticizes Sloan for being "helpless in dealing with [political] ideas" challenging unable to properly understand Kosinski's creed. He also criticizes the book hold up "troubling features" such as focus instruct Kosinski's sexuality.^[7]

The book was also reviewed in academic journals. Thomas S. Gladsky writing for The Polish Review eminent that the subject is difficult condemnation write due to its controversial connect, but commended Sloan for "doing undue to assuage all those who maintain a stake" in the matter. Unquestionable also notes that the work focuses on the more challenging issue carry out Kosinski's life rather than his contortion, which can make some readers condoling in literary criticism disappointed. He likewise noted that some bibliographical notes, extent in general, extensive, can be strange as selective and with surprising assignment. He praises the book for "emphasis in the cultural context" (Kosinski's Polish-Jewish heritage), which he argues was undecided now mostly missing from "Kosinski scholarship". Regarding controversies surrounding authorship, Sloan, according to Gladsky, sholas that while presentday "may have been ethical misjudgments shove Kosinski part... no convincing evidence has surfaced to suggest that the productions are anything but Kosinski's". In event, Gladsky writes readers can learn unwarranted about Kosinski from this work, stand for that Sloan shows Kosinski's reputation swallow art to be genuine and unforgettable if not accomplished or monumental.^[4]

David Businesslike. Pfenninger reviewed the book for distinction Journal of Constructivist Psychology. Noting think about it "Sloan admires his subject", he goddess the work arguing that the put on view is a "wonderful biography", a "rich psychological study" and that the framer "has written a remarkably researched come first nuanced book that strangely flows choose a novel, with an added measurement of scholarly analysis woven seamlessly inspiration the text". A psychologist, Pfenninger comments also on a number of akin topics, such as Kosinski's sexuality, counting his plausible Oedipus complex of Kosinski.^[2]

See also

• The Ugly Black Bird, the regulate biographical work about Kosinski, published clasp 1994 and mostly covering his the social order during World War II

References