Mott the Hoople

by Willard Manus

Follows the misadventures of Norman Mott as he attempts to navigate through life on his own distinctive terms

Genres: Fiction

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that satire and even absurd satire has been around for a long time; Candide, Gulliver's Travels and Tristam Shandy to name a few. I'm not sure exactly when the modern absurd satire got its start; I mean the intellectually engaging, anti-establishment satire that is strictly not politically correct. The earliest book that comes to mind for me is Catch-22 published in 1961. Between 1961 and 1966, I can think of a smattering, mostly written by Kurt Vonnegut. That's why I was so surprised by this absurd adventure I had never heard of, written in 1966 by Willard Manus, Mott the Hoople.

I found the book because I have always wondered where the hell the 70's band "Mott the Hoople" got their name. If you remember they had a couple hits including "All the Young Dudes" written and produced by David Bowie. Well, it turns out the name was suggested by a promoter at their label who had read the book while in jail on drug charges (according to Wikipedia). "The Hoople" refers to Major Hoople, a "tall-tale telling husband" (Wikipedia) from a long-running cartoon "Our Boarding House" .

Largely forgotten now, the book Mott the Hoople is part Confederacy of Dunces, part Portnoy's complaint and even a little bit of The Graduate. It is irreverent, ridiculous, entertaining, and intellectually challenging. Manus ambitiously explores faith, sex, the red scare, anti-Semitism, the draft, existentialism, and more. We glimpse the tawdry and often seedy side of New York in the sixties during that awkward period somewhere between Madmen and bellbottoms. Be warned, the scenes contain the best and the worst of sixties sensibilities, and Mott is often far from sympathetic, but, amongst the pratfalls and offenses are tender moments as Mott strives to be a mensch.

Perhaps because Manus didn't follow up with a string of popular books like Vonnegut, the title "Mott the Hoople" is more remembered for glam rock than satirical fiction. I recommend that the book get another look.

[🐴 🍖]

feel like a bit of a jerk big upping sth so hard to come by but this one's special. in a parallel universe, robert altman's 1980 adaptation starring john candy is a beloved cult classic. equally bad on the topic of women as other 60s stuff but that's about all i can say negative... cries out unto the heavens for a reissue. CAW CAW indeed

[Mitchell Waldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a farcical, often overlooked late 60's comic tragic masterpiece, capturing the anti-corporate mainstream view of youth in those days, although its narrator and main character Mott (the Hoople, or Fool) is a wayward young man knowing not where he wants to go or be in the world. A Jewish gambler looking for his way in the world, with an apparently autistic twin brother institutionalized and dead parents (a father who was an anarchist), a skeptic of life, not religious, not a war supporter or protester, he chooses not to go to war in Vietnam, spending a year and a half in prison, then, when he gets out, finding his rich girlfriend and accepting a job with his soon to be wife's father's retail empire which, as you might figure, does not end up well. He may be a hoople, but a corporate cog he is not. But what does one do to have a meaningful life. He may be a hoople, but he has a kind heart and stands up for what he believes. Follow Mott in this bawdy, comic masterpiece, and find out.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be a "hoople"! Take the time to find a copy and enjoy!

[robert gibbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read this in early 70s while in school. A Clockwork Orange, Catch 22 Breakfast in America etc. all shaped my young mind. I came out fine, glad to read again. Id put this as a top 10 read from the late 60s, from authors who had a different slant on life. Good they put it to paper.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthusiastically recommend