Carson McCullers's The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

by Harold Bloom (Editor)

- Presents important and scholarly criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature
- The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism
- Contains notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index
- Introductory essay by Harold Bloom

Genres: Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Alison McLennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Ballad of the Sad Cafe for a class on magical realism. I have to admit that my concept of magic realism was a bit fuzzy until I read this story.Of course I have read One Hundred Years of Solitude and other works that would be classified as magical realism,but I did so with pure pleasure before formal study and the fixation of labels and genres overtook me. While the setting and characters in the Ballad of the Sad Cafe are realistic(if you take into account the time period) there is also a magical quality to them. Take for example Miss Amelia, who stands at six-foot two, and the dwarf that she comes to dote on. There is a fairy tale like quality to the narrative. By this I mean the old sense of the word, like Grimm Brothers fairy tales, not the sugar coated Disney stuff. I was totally enthralled with this story, the characters and setting. The writing is brilliant. I will be digging up more of Carson McCullers' stuff from the vault, and investigating with more depth the genre of magical realism.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCullers has a deserved reputation as an American literary giant. All the more remarkable given that she was 22 when ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’. This is a very carefully constructed novella somewhat in the style of a Greek tragedy centred around three rather bizarre protagonists. Amelia is a 6ft2 rather masculine woman living in a small southern town. Marvin Macy is her rough, abusive former husband. Lyman is a hunchbacked dwarf of a man, apparently Amelia’s cousin who appears one day and enters into a long relationship.
This sets up an examination of the relationship between the lover and the beloved and about gender stereotypes in the south during the 40’s and 50’s.
The writing is beautiful. It is told using a ‘fly on the wall’ style of third person narration which draws us into the story.
It’s a tragedy that the world lost this voice far too soon. There is no telling what she might have eventually achieved.
As a companion reading, consider ‘Two Serious Ladies’ by Jane Bowles who was a friend of McCulluers’. It also explores society’s approach to gender stereotypes.

[Frances Razmus · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time ever reading Carson McCullers but it leaves me wanting more.

[Änni · Rating 4 out of 5]

:(

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

review to be added