What do you think?
Rate this book
A Man Divided: A Journey Through the Depths of Identity and Existence
In Olaf Stapledon's 'A Man Divided', the reader is taken on a profound journey through the inner workings of the human psyche and the complexities of identity. This existential novel delves into the struggle of a man grappling with the conflicting aspects of his personality, leading to a deeper exploration of the duality of human nature. The narrative is skillfully crafted with introspective prose that invites readers to contemplate the nature of self and the choices that shape our lives. Stapledon's unique blend of psychological depth and philosophical inquiry sets this work apart, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in introspective literature. Olaf Stapledon, known for his pioneering works in science fiction and speculative fiction, brings his expertise in exploring existential themes to 'A Man Divided'. With a background in philosophy and a keen interest in the human mind, Stapledon infuses his writing with a depth of insight that resonates with readers on a personal and intellectual level. I highly recommend 'A Man Divided' to readers who enjoy thought-provoking literature that challenges conventional narratives and delves into the essence of human existence. Stapledon's masterful storytelling and profound exploration of identity make this novel a captivating and enriching read for those looking to engage with profound philosophical questions.
- GenresScience Fiction
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1950
82 people want to read
About the author
Olaf Stapledon
105 books567 followersExcerpted from wikipedia:
William Olaf Stapledon was a British philosopher and author of several influential works of science fiction.
Stapledon's writings directly influenced Arthur C. Clarke, Brian Aldiss, Stanisław Lem, C. S. Lewis and John Maynard Smith and indirectly influenced many others, contributing many ideas to the world of science fiction.
William Olaf Stapledon was a British philosopher and author of several influential works of science fiction.
Stapledon's writings directly influenced Arthur C. Clarke, Brian Aldiss, Stanisław Lem, C. S. Lewis and John Maynard Smith and indirectly influenced many others, contributing many ideas to the world of science fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 3, 2017
After this I have one more Stapledon novel (DEATH INTO LIFE) to read, then I'll have read all of his out-of-print fiction. So far, this is only one of Stapledon's out-of-print works I'd like to see make a comeback. A MAN DIVIDED is Stapledon's take on a Jekyll&Hyde-style split personality story, written in a similar fashion to Stapledon's other biographical novels(ODD JOHN and SIRIUS): a friend of the extraordinary individual has written a biography about them. It's been a few years since I read SIRIUS and ODD JOHN, but I feel that I can confidently claim that A MAN DIVIDED is on par with both of them, though it is far less fantastical and much more personal, more grounded in the real world.
Victor, the divided man, has two conflicting personalities:
The Somnolent/Somnambulant/Sleepwalking Self is a classist snob who goes through life on autopilot, pursuing a typical business career, seeking wealth and status, wanting an upper class trophy wife, rarely reflecting on the world, other people, or his actions. Etc.
The Awake/Lucid Self has a strong social conscience and great empathy for the suffering masses; he wants to learn as much about himself and the world as he can, and change both for the better; he falls in love with a not-conventionally-attractive woman from a poor background, because he can see her inner beauty. Etc.
The conflict between the two plays out in a way which still resonates today. When the Lucid Self takes over, he calls off a planned marriage with a rich and attractive woman, because he realises that they do not truly love each other and would just be settling for a stable and socially acceptable, but ultimately unhappy, marriage; he realises that his business career is blind self-service which has made him a cog in an economic machine that exploits the poor and is indifferent to their suffering.
And so he embarks on a new life path.
But the Somnolent Self regains control, and thinks that he's gone through a strange idealistic phase and must get back to real-world, must return to his business career and secure an appropriate and lucrative marriage. He must sort out this mess and go back to chasing wealth and status.
Throughout the course of the novel the two selves develop, both affected by the other. There's a lot to be read into this book, and it certainly feels like the most personal of Stapledon's fiction. (Leslie Fiedler borrowed the title for his early - and problematic - biography of Stapledon, OLAF STAPLEDON: A MAN DIVIDED. Robert Crossley's OLAF STAPLEDON: SPEAKING FOR THE FUTURE is considered the definitive Stapledon biography.) I'd love to see this back in print; it presents Stapledon's ideas in a very different way to his other fiction, on a smaller scale than his future histories and in a story less fantastical than the other two biographical novels.
Victor, the divided man, has two conflicting personalities:
The Somnolent/Somnambulant/Sleepwalking Self is a classist snob who goes through life on autopilot, pursuing a typical business career, seeking wealth and status, wanting an upper class trophy wife, rarely reflecting on the world, other people, or his actions. Etc.
The Awake/Lucid Self has a strong social conscience and great empathy for the suffering masses; he wants to learn as much about himself and the world as he can, and change both for the better; he falls in love with a not-conventionally-attractive woman from a poor background, because he can see her inner beauty. Etc.
The conflict between the two plays out in a way which still resonates today. When the Lucid Self takes over, he calls off a planned marriage with a rich and attractive woman, because he realises that they do not truly love each other and would just be settling for a stable and socially acceptable, but ultimately unhappy, marriage; he realises that his business career is blind self-service which has made him a cog in an economic machine that exploits the poor and is indifferent to their suffering.
And so he embarks on a new life path.
But the Somnolent Self regains control, and thinks that he's gone through a strange idealistic phase and must get back to real-world, must return to his business career and secure an appropriate and lucrative marriage. He must sort out this mess and go back to chasing wealth and status.
Throughout the course of the novel the two selves develop, both affected by the other. There's a lot to be read into this book, and it certainly feels like the most personal of Stapledon's fiction. (Leslie Fiedler borrowed the title for his early - and problematic - biography of Stapledon, OLAF STAPLEDON: A MAN DIVIDED. Robert Crossley's OLAF STAPLEDON: SPEAKING FOR THE FUTURE is considered the definitive Stapledon biography.) I'd love to see this back in print; it presents Stapledon's ideas in a very different way to his other fiction, on a smaller scale than his future histories and in a story less fantastical than the other two biographical novels.
Displaying 1 of 1 review