A Fine Madness

by Elliott Baker

A FINE MADNESS is about a creative spirit's struggle for survival in an analytical society. Samson Shillitoe, is (according to Shelly's definition) one of "the unacknowledged legislators of the world." But poetry does not rule our world and his obsession with completing his epic poem leads to his violating most accepted standards of behavior and into conflicts, both comic and deadly, with adversaries intent on making him "normal." Since A FINE MADNESS was published in 1964 it has achieved the status of a modern comedy classic. This new edition contains a preface by the author which will add to the reader's enjoyment. "I cannot imagine anyone reading A FINE MADNESS without his vision being sharpened and dignified." - New York Times Book Review

Genres: Fiction

319 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[Jules Alder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been so long since I read Elliott Baker's farcical novel about a poet who seeks psychiatric intervention when faced with the prospect of never finishing a large work that I honestly shouldn't be reviewing it. So...I won't. Instead I'll just say this: damn, that was some fine madness. It stuck with me for 22 years. Also, there's a movie with Sean Connery, Joanne Woodward and Jean Seberg, if you're into that sort of thing. Book #13 on mt work-in-progress list of "100 Books You Should Read Before You Die" (#100BooksFTW if you're on Twitter).

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comparing this to Catch-22 and Cuckoo’s Nest is a bit of a stretch. To be sure there is some outstanding comic writing here, but on the whole the energy built up in the first half diminishes quickly.

[Chris Craddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book a long time ago. It was made into a film starring Sean Connery. Not a great film, or so I hear. Enjoyed the book. A poet is quite the jerk. Is his poetry any good? It's hard to say, but once he seduces his shrink's wife, instead of a botel in front of me, he gets a prefrontal lombotomy.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not particularly insightful or engaging picaresque novel - sort of a low-rent One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This edition of the book had so many editing problems that it was frustrating to read. Despite these problems, I really enjoyed the story. I really liked how the character's stories all were woven together and how closely they were all linked together. With the characters all linked togtether the way they were it made the book that much more captivating for me because it kept my attention and required close attention to the characters and their individual lines in the story as a whole. Granted it wasn't rocket science and the plots were not difficult to follow, but when reading multiple books at a time being an interesting story is a must to keep my attention.

I'd recommend it, I may re-read it but it would be awhile. And I would have to get a different copy than the one I have. The errors are too distracting.

[C. James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in those dear dead days when Putnam was still an independent publisher and gave an award for the best first novel, I and my college friends paid attention to such things. "A Fine Madness" received that award as Putnam's best for 1964. It still holds up in all its glorious black humor, in tracking the life and loves of rebel-poet and carpet-shampooer Samson Shillitoe. Baker ranks with Thomas Berger, Joseph Heller, Evelyn Waugh and Kingsley Amis as a master of the hilarious and absurd.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published 1964, not 2005 as goodreads seems to think. Read this as an impressionable 20-something in the aftermath of reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and enjoyed it as much.

[Thetguy]

I have the Signet Books (Published by The New American Library) First Printing, February 1965 (Paperback)

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have bats in my belfry and Bedlam in my pocket." Great quote!