Robert Polito
Autor von Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s
Über den Autor
Robert Polito is the author of Savage Art: A Biography of Jim Thompson, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and an Edgar Award. (Bowker Author Biography)
Bildnachweis: Robert Polito (1951- )
Photo by David Shankbone, Aug. 19, 2006,
Bowery Poetry Club, New York City
Photo by David Shankbone, Aug. 19, 2006,
Bowery Poetry Club, New York City
Werke von Robert Polito
Farber on Film: The Complete Film Writings of Manny Farber (2009) — Herausgeber; Einführung — 120 Exemplare
American Noir: 11 Classic Crime Novels of the 1930s, 40s, & 50s (Library of America) (2012) 60 Exemplare
Crime Novels 1 Exemplar
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Wissenswertes
- Geburtstag
- 1951
- Geschlecht
- male
- Nationalität
- USA
- Geburtsort
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Ausbildung
- Harvard University (PhD - English and American Language and Literature)
- Berufe
- professor (Writing)
poet
biographer
cultural critic
editor - Organisationen
- Poetry Foundation (President, 2013- )
The New School
Harvard University
Wellesley College
New York University
Mitglieder
Rezensionen
Listen
Edgar Award (1)
Auszeichnungen
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Highsmith achieves a singular tone: Ripley is entitled, contradictory, isolated, and seemingly traumatised from prior social relationships. His sociopathy manifests in a predominant concern for appearances, but not only to fool others -- he displays a consistent preoccupation with personal appearance as a measure of self-worth, in terms of projecting what he wants to be in the world, and how he wants others to value him. In fact, by the end it appears he is an empty shell of a person: no identity, nothing to define him as a person, ever at the whim of events and emotions.
Interestingly, Ripley is neither a sympathetic criminal mastermind nor a figure of fear a la Hannibal Lecter. His plans often do not work, and he is suspected almost from the start with multiple suspicions raised: boat at San Reno, forged signatures, Marge, friends of Dickie. He is both pathetic and pitiful, if not pitiable. Undecided about following along for more adventures at this point, perhaps if the "identity" or "authenticity" theme nags at me.
It's my idea the reader is meant to consider the possibility Ripley is gay, and reflect upon what implications flow from the supposition. I don't think Highsmith has a definitive answer, let alone one the reader is meant to figure out, rather the reader is supposed to consider it. Many suggestions woven into the story: Ripley wanting to get Dickie alone, to have him "like" him, observations on whether Ripley finds various men attractive, only commenting on women if they are linked to one of the men he's dealing with. But much less on direct consequences, either of plot or of character. So the question is left dangling: what would it mean if he were?
A re-read, first read in high school and possibly a bit earlier.
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to be read:
THE KILLER INSIDE ME | J Thompson
DOWN THERE (SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER) | D Goodis
PICK-UP | C Wileford
THE REAL COOL KILLERS | C Himes… (mehr)