The Philadelphian

by Richard Pitts Powell, Robert Vaughn (Foreword)

Touted by its original publisher as an exposé and indictment of blue-blooded Philadelphia society, the late Richard Powell's The Philadelphian was released to rave reviews and later became the 1959 Oscar-nominated film, The Young Philadelphians, starring Paul Newman and Robert Vaughn. The Philadelphian was an immediate national bestseller, and in the 50 years since its debut the novel has been widely hailed as Richard Powell's crowning literary achievement. The author's acute sense of irony infuses this raw, powerful saga of a family of humble origins climbing the Philadelphia social ladder. Beginning with the emigration of a poor Irish girl in 1857, the story spans four generations and climaxes with her grandson, an ambitious young defense lawyer, holding the city spellbound in one of the most compelling courtroom scenes ever written. Plexus Publishing, Inc. is delighted to have worked with the author's family to restore The Philadelphian to print after a long and inexplicable hiatus. This 50th anniversary edition includes a new foreword by Oscar nominee Robert Vaughn and, in a special preface, Richard Powell's previously unpublished (and not-to-be-missed) soliloquy, "The Personality of Philadelphia." (Paperback)

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels, Historical

323 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

Reviews

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a pretty good read, with a few dull spots ... but the movie (The Young Philadelphians with Paul Newman) is much better as plot lines hinted at in the book are beautifully developed in the movie

[Solo un’altra pagina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“L’uomo di Philadelphia” di Richard Powell, edito da marcosymarcos è un romanzo che è passato un po’ in sordina qui su Instagram, o, perlomeno, io non l’ho praticamente mai visto.
Eppure è una saga familiare così viva e vibrante che è impossibile non riesca ad affascinare.
Il romanzo si divide in diverse parti, ognuna con un protagonista principale, iniziamo con Margaret, giovane contadina, sbarca a Philadelphia nel 1857, il suo sogno è quello di diventare qualcuno e da giovane arrivista un po’ superficiale rimane presto incinta di Mary. Da Mary nascerà Kate e da Kate finalmente Anthony, l’uomo di Philadelphia.
Di generazione in generazione vediamo le condizioni di questa famiglia migliorare e, in una storia lunga un secolo, i colpi di scena non mancheranno di certo.
La vita di Anthony occupa la metà del romanzo, è lui il vero protagonista, colui che porta il peso del desiderio delle tre donne che sono venute prima di lui, Anthony che è un ragazzino mingherlino, un po’ sfigato, ma che vedrà presto la sua vita prendere pieghe inaspettate.
È un libro appassionante, ricco di vita, di amore, di ambizione. Un romanzo che ci fa vivere sia la ricchezza che la povertà, sia la gioia che il dolore,sia l’amore e la perdita, ma è anche un romanzo che indaga sull’animo umano portando il protagonista a chiedersi chi sia davvero e quali siano i suoi valori.
Un testo pieno quindi, che vi consiglio caldamente di recuperare e di godervi, magari in una sera d’autunno con una bevanda calda in mano!

Ig: @solo_un_altra_pagina

[Antonio Fanelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

La storia delle tre donne è bellissima.
La stora del protagonista è piuttosto scontata, ma gradevole.
Ricordo il film con Paul Newman abbastanza piacevole, ma nulla più.

[Deborah Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO SPOILERS. This book is plot-driven more than story-driven, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The author takes you through the many events that lead up to the life of the Philadelphian of the title, and then he takes you through the title character's life. There is very much a through-line, but it consists of "moments in the plot" versus a "complicated story".

The reason it still absolutely rates five stars is that it is extraordinarily well-written. Richard Powell's ability to draw an analogy to perfectly describe a thought, feeling, sense, or attitude is superb. This book is RICH with analogous description without being "too heavy on description." Where Powell could simply say a character is tired, he instead draws a half-sentence (at the most) analogy to put a fine point on it. And he always chooses the exact right analogy to make the picture clear. As a result, the reader is more than a fly on the wall. It's as though the reader is inside the scene with the characters. Because of the palpability the writing creates, story (versus plot) slips in. By the end of the novel (no spoilers), you feel you've been through a long journey, but the author's way of demonstrating that is through plot points.

The book also gives fantastic insight into Philadelphia society and history in a way that--strange as this may sound--is "politically correct" by New Millennium standards. Mostly. Powell discusses Society as an upper-case idea and the desire of old Philadelphians to maintain tradition, without putting down what Society isn't. Powell doesn't bother with all of what "can't be included in" Society. He simply talks about what Society is. His deftness was much appreciated.

Still no spoilers, but for fans of the film made from this book, you will recognize large chunks of this, including even some of the dialogue. But you will also get WAY more backstory to the Paul Newman character, including an entire section I really wish had been in the movie. Also, the Barbara Rush character factors in differently. Overall, the book is better than the film (as usual), but the film is a pretty darn good adaptation of the novel.

Finally, if you're reading it on Kindle, as I did, the formatting was great. No typos or "techos", as I like to refer to poorly formatted e-books that are fraught with technical problems that jack up the paragraphs, etc.

Great read. FAST read. Five stars.

[Alessandra Gennaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se tutti i romanzi fossero come questo, passerei la vita a leggere, giorno e notte, e sarei una donna felice. Richard Powell è, per inciso, l'autore del libro più spassoso del mondo, nella mia classifica secondo solo a Tre Uomini in Barca, quel Vacanze matte per la cui ristampa i lettori italiani hanno dovuto attendere decenni fatti di petizioni e suppliche: una sorte condivisa anche con questo titolo, visto che ci vollero 50 anni, negli U.S.A., per vederlo ristampato. Nel mentre, era diventato un romanzo di culto e, subito dopo, un classico. Un po' come succede al protagonista della storia, Anthony Lawrence, un giovane avvocato che impara a sue spese che per poter vivere felicemente a Philadelphia devi avere una posizione sociale- e che questa deve essere poi garantita da gallerie di antenati blasonati, per il passato, e da posizioni di potere, per il presente. Una storia come tante, ad essere onesti, che Powell riesce a rendere unica raccontandola come solo lui sa fare, cioè con quella ironia e quella facilità di scrittura che fanno sì che la lettura scorra veloce e piacevole. Alla fine, c'è il colpo di scena, anzi: i colpi di scena, una serie di fuochi d'artificio che scombinano tutto l'ordine faticosamente raggiunto per dargli un senso nuovo e nobile, come nobile è, senza dubbio, il protagonista, a dispetto del sangue irlandese che gli scorre nelle vene. Ed è questo finale che fa de L'Uomo di Philadelphia non solo un classico, non solo un grande romanzo di formazione, ma anche un seme di speranza, in un campo altrimenti arido. Non so se i tempi siano ancora giusti, perché possa attecchire, nel mare di arrivismo da cui siamo circondati. Se così non fosse, restano tre ore di puro piacere, per i lettori come me,che amano prose eleganti e leggere. E, tutto sommato, va bene anche così.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the better books I've read recently. The Philadelphian is riveting, page-turning, and extremely well-written. Powell paints a picture of four very unique characters, beginning with a young woman who comes to Philadelphia by boat from Ireland -- vowing to create a better life for herself -- and ending with her great grandson, Anthony Lawrence's narrative, which makes up the largest part of the book.

I cannot emphasize enough that the caliber and quality of Powell's writing is a real treat, and is so refreshing compared with many modern-day writers who struggle to harness the craft of fiction the way he so effortlessly did. The two things that dropped my rating from an absolute 4 stars to 3 were:

1) The stories of Anthony's mother, grandmother, and great grandmother all seemed to be unessential backstory by the end of the book. Though their narratives are indeed very interesting, they don't really serve to enhance the plot in the latter half of the novel (which is focused on Anthony);

2) This novel didn't make me laugh or cry...though I suppose it's not totally fair of me to rate it based on the way I felt while reading it, as Powell's book evoked other reactions, like curiosity. I was definitely engaged while reading it!

Overall, I would recommend The Philadelphian as a very good read! 3.5 stars.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a decent read. i have to admit, i skimmed all the stuff about tony in the war. i always enjoy reading about philadelphia, even if it's fiction.

but dude. i do not get the obsession with "society" and the lengths people will go to to be a part of it. i suppose that there is still a "philadelphia way of life" and "society" that i don't know about. i don't fit in in those circles.

apparently the movie is terrible.

would i read this again? no. but i wouldn't disrecommend it to anyone either.

[Rick Claypool · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather well-written and well-structured novel telling the inspiring story of how, through determination and wits, impoverished immigrants can in a few generations can produce a hot shot lawyer who joins high society, helps corporations dodge tax liabilities, and generally betrays his struggling ancestors' class interests (because that's what they would have wanted).

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish there was more about the older generations. Fun reading a book set in Philly. Overall good. Much better than the movie that was based on it.

[tramaine paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Must read. I see why this movie had to be made. The book is astonishing. I couldn't put it down.

[Bill Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

 Books that make it onto the New York Times best seller list aren't always the best books of that time, but they are almost always readable and often worth reading. Looking at the list the week Richard Pitts Powell's The Philadelphian reached its highest rank on that list, number three, you see books that are remembered now, like Grace Metalious's hugely popular Peyton Place, and Patrick Dennis's Around the World with Auntie Mame, but most of them have been forgotten. I don't know anyone who's read Rebecca West's The Fountain Overflows or Tower in the West, by Frank Callan Norris, though I bet they're good books.
 The latter is true of The Philadelphian. If anyone's heard of it, it's probably because of the movie version, The Young Philadelphians, which starred Paul Newman and Robert Vaughn.
 The Philadelphian was the most fun reading experience I've had in ages, but my bias is strong. My parents grew up in Philadelphia and in the early fifties moved to the Main Line—which features heavily in the book—were, culturally, much in the same generation as Powell, who was born in 1908 and died in 1999. I grew up on the Main Line and later lived in Philadelphia for twenty years.
 A former reporter, Powell had a sharp eye for details, an ability to convey history, a keen awareness of class, and the ability to write clean but intelligent prose.
 The novel centers around Anthony Lawrence, a 42-year-old lawyer, but rich early segments describe the lives of the female half of his ancestors, starting with an migrant's story in 1860. They were ambitious women in a city where ambition meant class elevation.
 I'd put this book as an absolute must for anyone who lives in Philadelphia, a definite should for those interested in the city, and a strong recommend for those who don't live in cities in which family histories matter but want to learn about places where they do.
 When you get old like me, twenty years doesn't seem like a very long time, so I'm awed when I consider that just twenty years after The Philadelphian was published another popular Philadelphia-centric work came out which made the the Philadelphia of 1956 and the Philadelphia of 1976 look as different as Waco, and Kathmandu; the movie Rocky.
 Here's a scene where a preparatory school headmaster is describing the purpose of such schools:

 "Let me try to explain something rather complicated," he said. "Franklin Academy exists because it serves the upper classes rather well. But in serving it cannot be servile, if you know what I mean. We take young squirts who are rebellious and full of life, and break them to the saddle just as you would train a thoroughbred horse. And we have to do this without breaking their spirit. We turn out young men who are at least slightly educated in formal courses and highly educated in the things society will expect from them. Our ideal is a graduate who will respond in a planned and predictable way when he meets problems involving honor, duty, and all the rest of it. We seldom reach the ideal, but in general our graduates have a passing grade. Do you follow me?"

 As a graduate of such a school, yes, I do.
11.5 hrs.

[Todd Hogan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This 1956 bildungsroman describes a young man breaching the castle of Philadelphia society. He came from humble Irish stock. The first third of the novel describes his three maternal ancestors, all of whom themselves tried unsuccessfully to enter polite society. They, in turn, attach their dreams to their sole progeny, an honest, hardworking man who learns quickly from his encounters with disapproving elites.

The tale is fanciful. The young man, portrayed by Paul Newman in the film "The Young Philadelphians," struggles through school but eventually becomes an attorney. Although he is a tax attorney (a relatively new branch of law at the time), he undertakes the defense of a high-profile murder case for one of society's bad boys. Through some clever trickery involving substituting gin for water in an identification demonstration, he impeaches the prosecution's star witness. After that, the young man becomes a star at the law firm, rising to the ranks of partner at his firm. He marries a beautiful, but frosty, cousin of the man he defended and fathers two children. In the end, he is approached to enter politics and run for DA and eventually mayor of Philadelphia.

Not a bad Horatio Alger story. But the novel is also concerned with the women in his life. This is the author's weakness. None of the women, whether great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, lover, wife, or friend, ring true. The obligatory sex scenes are hot by 1956 standards but end in frustration. After a detailed encounter, the woman is left to live her life without any other sexual adventures, apparently. Certainly, the young man seemed celibate, except when tempted by calculating heiresses with preserving trust funds on their minds.

So, not an altogether satisfying read, often too predictable. The movie was no better, except in one regard. In the movie, the young man eventually learns who his real father is. That revelation never occurs in the novel, leaving the young man ultimately bereft of paternity.

[Antonio Gnesotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro davvero affascinante, Powell traccia il ritratto di quattro generazioni e del loro genio familiare che aspira ad arrivare in alto. Come sempre nei suoi libri, ci si trova di fronte a situazioni che si potrebbero considerare problematiche dov’è i protagonisti devono compiere delle scelte che cambieranno il loro destino.
La lettura è davvero piacevole ed ogni capitolo crea la sua suspense, che poi risolve, per poi ricrearla nel successivo. Si forma quasi un circolo vizioso con la domanda “cosa succederà poi?” che diventa persistentissima.
All’improvviso qualcosa cambia nella vita del protagonista. E in quel momento il libro si conclude, lasciando all’immaginazione del lettore il seguito.

[MERM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Richard Powell writes like a dime store John O'Hara. You can see where he wants to go with his (male) characters but doesn't have the literary talent to fully take them there. As for the female characters, well, the first few chapters centered around three conniving women only a man could dream up. He fails to give Philadelphia any real character, offering us only familiar street names and the same story of stodgy exclusiveness of the Mainline elites that every other story about Philly mentions. This novel has nothing to offer in 2020, and I doubt it had much to off in 1957.

[Golda Szydlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

In addition to providing a historical timeline of immigration into our country and the measures people will take to get ahead, the story of Main Line in Philadelphia is fascinating. Not being familiar, I’m not sure how much of that is true but I found myself believing every word of the rich and influential of Philadelphia.

As a bonus, a movie was made, The Young Philadelphian, starring the handsome Paul Newman. Of course, the movie only follows the bones of the book but it’s worth a watch, as the book is worth a read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories of the three women who were the main character's ancestors. I found the story of Tony Lawrence to be less interesting, particularly the part set during WWII. The book is well-written, but, in my opinion, has become dated. The courtroom scenes near the end raised my rating by one star.

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as part of my journey through "Films starring Paul Newman (and the novels they are based on)." This was an epic, four-generation tale of a family in Philadelphia with many twists and turns. I'll loved it, loved the character development, the plot twists, the whole thing. Can't wait to watch the film.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the movie, so thought I would read the book. I liked that we got a little more back story, which traced the migration of Maggie's parents to the US and their rise through social strata. I thought the treatment of Chester in the movie was better than the approach in the novel. Glad I read it, but felt a bit dated.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not incorporating Powers satire and dry wit so evident in his other books. In fact, this is the book that created his reputation, but others are so much better. Frankly hard to believe it was made into a film and kicked off his career.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started very well, but got tedious. DNF

[Karthik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, have read it several times. It makes me smile 😊 everytime I read it.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

P E.S. ExLarge

[Milena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letto in 24 ore

[READING4Me · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not a literary masterpiece it was an entertaining and interesting glimpse into the 1940's Philadelphia 'distinguished' society.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Story about a boy who came from nothing who made his way up through society and the choices he made along the way. Pretty good story but dragged in some areas.

[Pamela Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainline Melodrama

I saw the movie years ago and expected some of the story. However, the book and movie are very different.
I like that it goes into the backgrounds of the characters because it makes them more alive. However for those who have seen the movie be prepared to see the characters as less noble and sympathetic than their celluloid counterparts. The source material is quite different.
Some of the dialogue is stiff but probably more realistic.
I liked the book but it is a bit dated.

[EvilAntie Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant

I adored the movie which inspired me to read the book. While the movie is one of my favorites, the book is so richer in terms of both the story and character development.

[Cronache di Betelgeuse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recensione pubblicata su Cronache di Betelgeuse

L’uomo di Philadelphia di Richard Pitts Powell rappresenta una delle più affascinanti saghe familiari della letteratura americana, un’opera che attraversa un secolo di storia dal 1857 al 1956, offrendoci uno spaccato dettagliato e critico della società di Philadelphia. Seguendo quattro generazioni di una famiglia irlandese-americana nella loro inarrestabile ascesa sociale, Powell ci regala un ritratto vivido e coinvolgente di una città e delle sue dinamiche sociali più profonde.

La narrazione inizia nel 1857 con l’arrivo a Philadelphia di Margaret O’Donnell, una giovane e fiera immigrata irlandese in fuga dalla carestia. Assunta come domestica presso la ricca famiglia Clayton, Margaret impara a leggere e a scrivere, assorbendo i modi dell’alta società. Da una breve relazione con il rampollo di casa, Glendenning Clayton, nasce sua figlia Mary, che Margaret crescerà da sola, rifiutando di usare la situazione a proprio vantaggio. Questo gesto di orgoglio definisce il carattere resiliente che caratterizzerà l’intera stirpe.

Mary, la figlia di Margaret, evolve il pragmatismo materno sposando Harry Judson, un uomo di modesta fortuna, e da questa unione nasce Katherine, detta Kate. Kate, a sua volta, incarna una sintesi tra la fierezza della nonna e il pragmatismo della madre, sposando un uomo dell’alta società e assicurando così al figlio Anthony un cognome prestigioso e l’accesso a un mondo altrimenti precluso.

Anthony Judson Lawrence emerge come il culmine delle speranze e delle ambizioni delle tre donne che lo hanno preceduto. Cresce ai margini dell’alta società, consapevole di non appartenervi pienamente ma determinato a scalarla. Grazie alla sua intelligenza e a un’incessante ambizione, diventa un brillante avvocato a Philadelphia.

Però uno degli aspetti meno riusciti di L’uomo di Philadelphia è il ritratto della città stessa. Powell dipinge un quadro un po’ stereotipato di Philadelphia e della sua società, dove occorreva qualcosa in più del denaro e del potere per conquistarsi il diritto di cittadinanza. A differenza di New York, dove contava il denaro, o di Boston con le sue esclusioni palesi, Philadelphia presenta una barriera più sottile e insidiosa, basata su stirpe e appartenenza. I quartieri dell’alta borghesia come Main Line diventano simboli di questa rigida gerarchia sociale.

Il tema della mobilità sociale viene esplorato con superficialità, usando come escamotage le figure femminili. Le donne rappresentano la vera forza motrice della storia, ma solo per dare vita all’uomo a cui il titolo fa riferimento. Le vite e i sacrifici di Margaret, Mary e Kate servono solo a tessere la tela del destino di Anthony.

Lo stile di Powell può essere definito “d’altri tempi”, con descrizioni dettagliate degli stati d’animo e delle motivazioni dei personaggi. La scrittura è elegante, ma molto prolissa, specialmente nel descrivere i rituali e le convinzioni dell’alta società di Philadelphia. Alcuni passaggi risultano lenti e occasionalmente i dialoghi appaiano rigidi.

L’uomo di Philadelphia dovrebbe rappresentare un’opera solida e coinvolgente, ma non riesce nel suo intento di farci riflettere sulle dinamiche del sogno americano.

[Marianne Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Powell had an internal sense of how women felt and thought. I actually kept checking to see if this book was written by a woman. I enjoyed the bits of historical information that I had missed or never been exposed to. However, this book turned into an exercise of social climbing that I found boring and predictable.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, what a delight this was to read. Now mind you, it only gets three start cause its structure was pretty conventional (sometimes boring and predictable) and it wasn't badly written per se, but it wasn't exactly literature.

But what this was a love letter to Philadelphia and even though it was written 50 years ago, it captures the same crazy devotion many of us have today.

Plot: a poor Irish lass escaping famine travels to the US, becomes a maid, seduces the young son of the fancy society people she works for her, becomes pregnant, is cast out of home. Her daughter's story takes over: she's a seamstress, humble, yet still proud. Raises her daughter to be the newest belle at the society ball. Who of course marries into wealth, but faces tragedy. Her child, a boy, then makes it big on the Main Line and in "society," but rejects it all to be his own man (sort of).

The plot is less important than the moments like this:

He had always had trouble with History, because dates in history skidded around his mind like soap in a bathtub. But his grandmother fixed that. It was easy once you knew the trick. You just got straight in your mind what was happening in Philadelphia at any given time and then you tied in other dates with that. For example, a thing called the French Revolution began in 1789. Well, who could remember that a date like that floating around all by itself? But you could remember that they wrote the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787, and that the French Revolution started only two years later.

Ah, music to a Nativist heart.