The Tormented

by Theodore Pratt, Barye Phillips (illustrator)

"This is an important book," says Dr.Richard Hoffmann, noted New York psychiatrist. "It presents an authentic picture of nymphomania in a novel about a girl named Zona."

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Theodore Pratt (1901 - 1969) was an American writer who is best known for his novels set in Florida. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1901 to Thomas A. and Emma Pratt. The family later moved to New Rochelle, New York, where Theodore attended high school. After completing high school, he attended Colgate University for two years, and then Columbia University for another two years, but did not graduate. He worked in New York City as a play reader, a staff reader for a movie company, and a columnist for the New York Sun. He also free-lanced articles for The New Yorker and other national magazines.

Theodore Pratt published more than thirty novels, including four mysteries under the pseudonym of "[author=Timothy Brace|21712110]", two collections of short stories, two plays (adapted from his novels), a few non-fiction books and pamphlets, and numerous short stories and articles in periodicals such as Esquire, Blue Book, Escapade, The Gent, Manhunt, Guilty Detective Story Magazine, Coronet, Fantastic Universe, Space Science Fiction, and The Saturday Evening Post. Some of his novels had strong sexual content by the standards of the time. The Tormented (1950), a study of nymphomania, was turned down by thirty-four publishers. It eventually sold more than a million copies. Five of his works were made into feature motion pictures.

Reviews

[JoLynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel takes place in the 1920's - 1930's, and the main character, Zona, is astoundingly naive, as I suppose some young women were at that time. Still, the story of a woman's struggle with the dreaded problem of nymphomania seems quite dated.

The story is sensational - affairs with married men, adultery, troubles with a corrupt vice squad, and a stint in a women's prison. I hope it is not an accurate picture of its issues at that time, because Zona truly is hopelessly lost and 'tormented.' Would have made a good pre-code women's melodrama, possibly with a young Joan Crawford.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terrible read. Written in the 50s, by today's standards, it's a little hokey, but I enjoyed it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about nymphomania written in the 50's. Quite dated in its attitudes - isn't it funny that there's a word for women who like sex? Don't all women like sex? - but a solid pulpy read.