Europe, or, Up and down with Baggish and Schreiber

by Richard Stern

Originally published in 1961, this shrewd, smartly written novel follows two American men traveling in Europe. Though both have struck out for the same continent, each mans development as a writer and stands as a witty, sharp point of entry into his writings and the writings of novelists who rose to prominence in the 1960s.

229 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Americans move to Europe in this existential post-war buddy comedy. Europe is well-written, especially on the level of language, though there isn't much in the way of traditional plot structure. It is mainly episodic, and the eventual conclusion, while satisfying, isn't necessarily a direct result of the preceding action. In the end, blind fate secures the futures of the two main characters, and while previous circumstances led them to be where they were, the coincidences happen too late in the narrative to have played a part in driving the action. But the smaller stories are amusing and the characters interesting, so it's worth reading this influential if often overlooked author.