False Gods

by Louis Auchincloss

Blends ancient Greek myths with the contradictions of modern New York society--Hermes is a Jewish lawyer, and Hephaestus in a designer of Palladian villas--to create six fables that comment on how impulse and desire can weaken moral sensibilities

Genres: Fiction, New York

214 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Louis Stanton Auchincloss was an American novelist, historian, and essayist.

Among Auchincloss's best-known books are the multi-generational sagas The House of Five Talents, Portrait in Brownstone, and East Side Story. Other well-known novels include The Rector of Justin, the tale of a renowned headmaster of a school like Groton trying to deal with changing times, and The Embezzler, a look at white-collar crime. Auchincloss is known for his closely observed portraits of old New York and New England society.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Auchincloss casts Greek myth into contemporary fable.

[Jason Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic. The full range of Auchincloss, writer of whom I can never tire.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit to a hole in my education, never read a
Auchincloss before, and am I glad I remedied that. False Gods, a 1992 book of short stories feels as relevant today, thirty years later because of the richness of the characters and the writing. He is so witty and delightful in painting people of the NE. I live in NY, I know these people, and he is spot on. Going out to find more of his books.

[Thom Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 stories of people with false gods, drawn from mythology, patterns of New York society behavior.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. I think I would like some of his other works better.

[Nate Caress · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection on the New York set. Only Auchincloss can write this and make it work.