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Aurora Dawn
The publication of 'Aurora Dawn' in 1947 immediately established Herman Wouk as a novelist of exceptional literary and historical significance. Today, Aurora Dawn's themes have grown still more relevant and, in the manner of all great fiction, its characters and ironies have only been sharpened by the passage of time. Wouk's raucous satire of Manhattan's high-power elite recounts the adventures of one Andrew Reale as he struggles toward fame and fortune in the early days of radio. On the quest for wealth and prestige, ambitious young Andrew finds himself face-to-face with his own devil's forced to choose between soul and salary, true love and a strategic romance, Wouk's riotous, endearing hero learns a timeless lesson about the high cost of success in America's most extravagant metropolis.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1947
67 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Herman Wouk
161 books1,390 followersHerman Wouk was a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning Jewish American author with a number of notable novels to his credit, including The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance.
Herman Wouk was born in New York City into a Jewish family that had emigrated from Russia. After a childhood and adolescence in the Bronx and a high school diploma from Townsend Harris High School, he earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1934, where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and studied under philosopher Irwin Edman. Soon thereafter, he became a radio dramatist, working in David Freedman's "Joke Factory" and later with Fred Allen for five years and then, in 1941, for the United States government, writing radio spots to sell war bonds. He lived a fairly secular lifestyle in his early 20s before deciding to return to a more traditional Jewish way of life, modeled after that of his grandfather, in his mid-20s.
Wouk joined the United States Navy and served in the Pacific Theater, an experience he later characterized as educational; "I learned about machinery, I learned how men behaved under pressure, and I learned about Americans." Wouk served as an officer aboard two destroyer minesweepers (DMS), the USS Zane and USS Southard, becoming executive officer of the latter. He started writing a novel, Aurora Dawn, during off-duty hours aboard ship. Wouk sent a copy of the opening chapters to Irwin Edman who quoted a few pages verbatim to a New York editor. The result was a publisher's contract sent to Wouk's ship, then off the coast of Okinawa. The novel was published in 1947 and became a Book of the Month Club main selection. His second novel, City Boy, proved to be a commercial disappointment at the time of its initial publication in 1948.
While writing his next novel, Wouk read each chapter as it was completed to his wife, who remarked at one point that if they didn't like this one, he'd better take up another line of work (a line he would give to the character of the editor Jeannie Fry in his 1962 novel Youngblood Hawke). The novel, The Caine Mutiny (1951), went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. A huge best-seller, drawing from his wartime experiences aboard minesweepers during World War II, The Caine Mutiny was adapted by the author into a Broadway play called The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, and was later made into a film, with Humphrey Bogart portraying Lt. Commander Philip Francis Queeg, captain of the fictional USS Caine. Some Navy personnel complained at the time that Wouk had taken every twitch of every commanding officer in the Navy and put them all into one character, but Captain Queeg has endured as one of the great characters in American fiction.
He married Betty Sarah Brown in 1945, with whom he had three sons: Abraham, Nathanial, and Joseph. He became a fulltime writer in 1946 to support his growing family. His first-born son, Abraham Isaac Wouk, died in a tragic accident as a child; Wouk later dedicated War and Remembrance (1978) to him with the Biblical words, "He will destroy death forever."
In 1998, Wouk received the Guardian of Zion Award.
Herman Wouk died in his sleep in his home in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2019, at the age of 103, ten days before his 104th birthday.
Herman Wouk was born in New York City into a Jewish family that had emigrated from Russia. After a childhood and adolescence in the Bronx and a high school diploma from Townsend Harris High School, he earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1934, where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and studied under philosopher Irwin Edman. Soon thereafter, he became a radio dramatist, working in David Freedman's "Joke Factory" and later with Fred Allen for five years and then, in 1941, for the United States government, writing radio spots to sell war bonds. He lived a fairly secular lifestyle in his early 20s before deciding to return to a more traditional Jewish way of life, modeled after that of his grandfather, in his mid-20s.
Wouk joined the United States Navy and served in the Pacific Theater, an experience he later characterized as educational; "I learned about machinery, I learned how men behaved under pressure, and I learned about Americans." Wouk served as an officer aboard two destroyer minesweepers (DMS), the USS Zane and USS Southard, becoming executive officer of the latter. He started writing a novel, Aurora Dawn, during off-duty hours aboard ship. Wouk sent a copy of the opening chapters to Irwin Edman who quoted a few pages verbatim to a New York editor. The result was a publisher's contract sent to Wouk's ship, then off the coast of Okinawa. The novel was published in 1947 and became a Book of the Month Club main selection. His second novel, City Boy, proved to be a commercial disappointment at the time of its initial publication in 1948.
While writing his next novel, Wouk read each chapter as it was completed to his wife, who remarked at one point that if they didn't like this one, he'd better take up another line of work (a line he would give to the character of the editor Jeannie Fry in his 1962 novel Youngblood Hawke). The novel, The Caine Mutiny (1951), went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. A huge best-seller, drawing from his wartime experiences aboard minesweepers during World War II, The Caine Mutiny was adapted by the author into a Broadway play called The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, and was later made into a film, with Humphrey Bogart portraying Lt. Commander Philip Francis Queeg, captain of the fictional USS Caine. Some Navy personnel complained at the time that Wouk had taken every twitch of every commanding officer in the Navy and put them all into one character, but Captain Queeg has endured as one of the great characters in American fiction.
He married Betty Sarah Brown in 1945, with whom he had three sons: Abraham, Nathanial, and Joseph. He became a fulltime writer in 1946 to support his growing family. His first-born son, Abraham Isaac Wouk, died in a tragic accident as a child; Wouk later dedicated War and Remembrance (1978) to him with the Biblical words, "He will destroy death forever."
In 1998, Wouk received the Guardian of Zion Award.
Herman Wouk died in his sleep in his home in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2019, at the age of 103, ten days before his 104th birthday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 5, 2022
Aurora Dawn was the debut novel written by beloved writer and storyteller Herman Wouk while he was serving in the Pacific during World War II and published in 1947. This delightful and amusing satire is set in New York City in the early days of radio with advertising at its core. It is the story of young Andrew Reale, an ambitious young advertising executive in Manhattan working for the company, Aurora Dawn. Thrown into this mix are a lot of ambitious people and a few romances afoot as well. Reale in making a Faustian bargain at one point is forced to come to terms with his choices. It is an amazing book that shows us the gentle humor of Herman Wouk throughout this entertaining book, complete with prescient asides by the author to enlighten us as to what may be really happening. Another delightful addition to the book are the glorious illustrations used throughout the book to add to one's enjoyment.
I found the Preface to the First Edition by Herman Wouk quite moving, his words as follows:
I found the Preface to the First Edition by Herman Wouk quite moving, his words as follows:
"The writing of this story was begun to relieve the tedium of military service at sea in wartime, which as sailors will tell you, is even more monotonous than in peace, despite occasional interruptions of terror. AURORA DAWN was started aboard the U.S.S. Zane at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, in 1943. The first part was completed aboard the U.S.S. Southard at Okinawa in 1945; and the book was finished at Northport, Long Island, in May, 1946."
December 30, 2008
Wouk gets a bit precious with his asides and "dear reader" interludes, but all the same, perhaps Tom Wolfe should have read this takedown of a nascent American materialism centered in the advertising and radio worlds of Manhattan before he wrote The Bonfire of the Vanities. Wouk succeeds in depicting the era without being grotesque, without expressing superiority to his characters, and with an admirable focus that Wolfe sorely lacked.
Wouk's achievement in decrying our tendency toward Success at the expense of the Soul and the Spirit, which, as the back cover promises, still resonates today, is all the more impressive for having been written during World War II, and published just in its aftermath, before the prosperous fifties were upon us, before the Me Generation unleashed itself, before the Dot-Commers revived it all one more time.
Wouk's achievement in decrying our tendency toward Success at the expense of the Soul and the Spirit, which, as the back cover promises, still resonates today, is all the more impressive for having been written during World War II, and published just in its aftermath, before the prosperous fifties were upon us, before the Me Generation unleashed itself, before the Dot-Commers revived it all one more time.
April 25, 2022
"The road to happiness does not necessarily lie in becoming very rich very quickly." The book is serious but also funny and the author does a good job with satire, irony, and breaking the fourth wall.
The characters feel very real and Herman Wouk doesn't explain the character's thoughts (he can't explain the inner workings of young ladies' minds) but instead focuses on their actions.
I was going to give it 4 stars, but the last 100 pages were sensational!
The characters feel very real and Herman Wouk doesn't explain the character's thoughts (he can't explain the inner workings of young ladies' minds) but instead focuses on their actions.
I was going to give it 4 stars, but the last 100 pages were sensational!
October 19, 2021
Unnecessarily wordy. Like the author was trying to tell a fairly simple story using as many words as he possibly could.
February 14, 2021
Okay, so I ordered this book from a used-book seller, knowing it it was written in the mid-20th century. Turns out to be the author's first, but my copy was published about 8 years later in 1956. One reviewer mentioned that the story was a little dated; but a preface (or was it an introduction?) addresses that, telling of all the media changes and advances since the book was written - mostly during his service in the Navy during WWII - and published in 1948.
And indeed, there have been monumental changes: most notably, the arrival of television, by now - in 1956 - becoming increasingly available to the masses! And more: the author wondered what advances and technological marvels might next appear to supplant television!
Of course, from the vantage point of well over 50 years later we could tell him tales that would blow his mind - and may have, before he died.
In any case, I'm beginning this review at the beginning of the book, only about 50-ish pages in. Yes, the writing is slightly precious but was groundbreaking at the time. But I confess to having been drawn in immediately.
Also, in the random draw which is buying used books online, sight unseen, I am lucky to have received the illustrated edition, " With Drawings by Alajalou" who I've never heard of, and which are very 1950s inspired. What a find! Although looking at the copyright page again, I see that it was reissued in 2004, and the first reissue was in 1992. So maybe not so great a find but I'm still thrilled with it, and I haven't even gotten to the meat of the story story!
More later. I must now go back and change my listed edition, in the spirit of total honesty.
More: my thoughts, having finished reading. This is a very good book and I recommend it to nearly everyone. I loved every bit of it, even the somewhat "precious" manner he used when speaks to the reader. Again,read it. It's a nice story.
And indeed, there have been monumental changes: most notably, the arrival of television, by now - in 1956 - becoming increasingly available to the masses! And more: the author wondered what advances and technological marvels might next appear to supplant television!
Of course, from the vantage point of well over 50 years later we could tell him tales that would blow his mind - and may have, before he died.
In any case, I'm beginning this review at the beginning of the book, only about 50-ish pages in. Yes, the writing is slightly precious but was groundbreaking at the time. But I confess to having been drawn in immediately.
Also, in the random draw which is buying used books online, sight unseen, I am lucky to have received the illustrated edition, " With Drawings by Alajalou" who I've never heard of, and which are very 1950s inspired. What a find! Although looking at the copyright page again, I see that it was reissued in 2004, and the first reissue was in 1992. So maybe not so great a find but I'm still thrilled with it, and I haven't even gotten to the meat of the story story!
More later. I must now go back and change my listed edition, in the spirit of total honesty.
More: my thoughts, having finished reading. This is a very good book and I recommend it to nearly everyone. I loved every bit of it, even the somewhat "precious" manner he used when speaks to the reader. Again,read it. It's a nice story.
June 8, 2008
I read this book as a young teenager, and I don't remember much about it, except that I thought it was extremely funny and poignant, a superb satire skewering not just advertising but the spiritual foibles of mankind. Aurora Dawn mocks a variety of things from psychologists and advertising to those who think of evil as nothing more than "an absence of being where being should be." For the most part, the novel is a parody on novelists. It is extremely enjoyable and filled with subtle humor as well as some not so subtle laughs.
December 11, 2010
I've decided that Herman Wouk is one of my favorite novelists. I've also read Marjorie Morningstar, which had a different flavor to it, but was also wonderful. I enjoy his many asides to the reader, and his forays into philosophy and its bearing on his characters, the novel's morals, and his writing choices. This novel reflects more of the author's own life as it takes place in the world of advertising in the 50's. Amid the big business of getting radio shows to tout household products, romance also plays a chief role.
December 6, 2014
I've read nearly everything written by Herman Wouk. His novels never disappoint. This is his first novel, a rollicking tale about radio advertising in NYC back in the day. It has romance, humor, action and surprises. Highly recommended as a Good Read!
October 13, 2020
An engaging story with an interesting approach to narrative.
January 12, 2024
Delightful! Quite a nice change of pace from modern-day fiction. I had not realized the wit of Herman Wouk before reading Aurora Dawn!
September 1, 2025
Andrew Reale is a young man in New York with a promising career in advertising; he brings the preacher Father Stanfield onto the radio sponsored by the soap industry titan Aurora Dawn. Reale mixes religion and advertising, confuses love and wealth, pursues strategy instead of meaning. I like it when authors like Wouk warn of the perils of capitalism, greed, etc. from decades ago. If only they could scroll for an hour on my phone. Wouk also does this in a very self-aware tone. He knows how many times this story has been told and how immortal it will be.
Unfortunately Wouk really delights himself with his cleverness. He goes on long asides about the structure of the novel, truths of the world and of young men and women, comments on the stylish literature of the time (overly committed to realism and also to lessons, limited to action and youth) before he can continue with the story. I feel like I'm trapped in conversation with a man who thinks he's the smartest one in the room, or in the car with Thomas trying to get him to answer a simple question. Am I becoming an overly particular reader?
Unfortunately Wouk really delights himself with his cleverness. He goes on long asides about the structure of the novel, truths of the world and of young men and women, comments on the stylish literature of the time (overly committed to realism and also to lessons, limited to action and youth) before he can continue with the story. I feel like I'm trapped in conversation with a man who thinks he's the smartest one in the room, or in the car with Thomas trying to get him to answer a simple question. Am I becoming an overly particular reader?
May 7, 2022
Having read Winds of War, War and Remembrance, Youngblood Hawke, Marjorie Morningstar and City Boy--- I can truthfully say that I've been a fan of Wouk's work. Reviews of this touting him as a stand out author of the 2oth century after this first novel, Aurora Dawn, led me to pick it up with enthusiasm. I was disappointed. The narration dominates the book and is very tongue in cheek. Sometimes it's amusing, but I felt it was way overdone and overshadowed the story. It seemed overly moralistic and just ... not at all the engaging story that has characterized his other works. I think I was pretty generous to give it three stars ...
April 17, 2019
My fourth star is mostly because I love Herman Wouk's writing. The story was fun, but a bit dated. I think that there were at least two or three insightful passages that have me wanting to actually own this book (instead of ordering it from Inter Library Loan from my library). At times I found the interjections from the narrator a bit over the top, still I loved the unfolding of the story. I will definitely be looking for more by Herman Wouk. As an side, this was not as good as "City Boy", my very first Wouk book (and one that I ended up buying so I could have my very own "forever Book".)
October 29, 2023
If you only think of Wouk as the author of those later doorstops of historical novels you are missing out on the delights of his earlier books, which bear more resemblance to Peter DeVries than James Michener. This, his first novel, is delightful, wherein he says things like this: “Sweet friend, may Heaven preserve you from error and keep you safe in the good paths of life; but if you are fated to stray, in order to learn the bitter lessons of straying, may one of your sins be a hansom cab ride through Central Park in a snowstorm, wrapped in the arms of a young creature who is not yours.”
December 27, 2024
I've enjoyed the books written by Herman Wouk, especially Youngblood Hawk, Winds of War, and War and Remembrance. I've also read Marjorie Morningstar and didn't enjoy it as much as the other 3. This one, Aurora Dawn, was very interesting and kept you guessing. But what I didn't like was the style of his writing in this book. I learned it was his first novel so that may have had something to do with it. That said, the story itself was very entertaining if you can get past some of the writing style! It was a book that, when I put it down, it wasn't calling to me to pick it up again!
March 26, 2018
Aurora Dawn was a fun story but I found it a difficult read. He injected many obscure words I have never seen before ( thankfully, I was reading on a Kindle). The story was broken up by the author, referring to himself in the third person, adding asides and and remarks.
May 29, 2025
I found it impossible to get into this at all. I tried multiple times over the course of a year and still could never find much interest in it. The plot is uninteresting and the writing gets quite old with all the asides to the reader.
December 15, 2025
"Aurora dawn, or, The true history of Andrew Reale : containing a faithful account of the great riot, together with the complete texts of Michael Wilde's oration and Father Stanfield's sermon"
Surprisingly good.
A satire of 19th century fiction with the author interpolations so typical of the time, set in the world of 20th century (1930's) radio advertising a la New York City.
Surprisingly good.
A satire of 19th century fiction with the author interpolations so typical of the time, set in the world of 20th century (1930's) radio advertising a la New York City.
July 21, 2014
It took a while to get into the characters because Wouk has a very roundabout way of narrating. He's also a tad sexist and there was a racist illustration (perhaps Wouk had nothing to do with the illustrations), but this was written in the 1950's so it's somewhat expected (sadly). Once you get into the plot and characters, it becomes much more entertaining... but that didn't happen until halfway through the book for me.
After reading a few other reviews, it sounds like this isn't Wouk's signature style of narration so I may give his other books a try.
After reading a few other reviews, it sounds like this isn't Wouk's signature style of narration so I may give his other books a try.
April 6, 2013
I disliked Wouk's overly-affected writing style. Even though I know it was a parody of 18th century literature it quickly grew tiresome. There was little in the way of plot and the characters weren't particularly interesting. I got this book because of my interest in old-time radio but there is little about that here.
February 26, 2014
Already a Herman Wouk fan after reading Winds of War and War and Remebrance, this book served to endear me to his writing in a new way. It is so comedic, satiric, and thoroughly entertaining while remaining relevant and thought-provoking. A light-weight read with a none-the-less high-brow, expansive vocabulary.
June 27, 2024
“The sweet of life comes when the couple emerges from the church door into a true marriage, with its small troubles and joys, a thousand years of which would not yield enough stuff for one page of the storyteller. May you and I be granted no worse portion while we walk under the sun”
Like I’m just not okay.
Like I’m just not okay.
August 22, 2007
Hilarious. A book about sin and the advertising industry in the classical mold, but set in the '30s to tweak modern convention.
Also, the only book I've read where the West Virginia evangelical preacher is seen as a moral figure.
Also, the only book I've read where the West Virginia evangelical preacher is seen as a moral figure.
July 29, 2012
A very entertaining read. I'm apparently in the minority when it comes to narration, as I found it not only clever, but integral to the story. The story itself is a familiar one, but considering it was written 60 or so years ago, I found it to be fairly eye-opening.
March 1, 2014
corny , corny, I wanted to give this book a one but it got the extra star for the Michael wilde oration and the HOG IN THE HOUSE. the only two parts of book worth reading. Wouk's later works were so much better.
October 12, 2014
Herman Wouk is a genius at humor. This is evident in all of his works,starting with this one. A lot of the satire of advertising and the New York social scene is still relevant today. A nice light read,with wit.
August 25, 2025
Beautifully written, fantastic characters. I even loved the author's 4th wall interludes. Wouk is one of the best ever. Makes me want to go back and finally read the sequel to The Winds of War: War and Remembrance.
January 11, 2008
Anyone pining for the next season of Mad Men (like I am) might derive some satisfaction from this amusing and occasionally uncanny take on the early days of advertising.
November 25, 2008
Herman Wouk is a new favorite author. Can't wait to read Marjorie Morningstar as soon as I find it in the non large print variety.
March 17, 2009
Good, fast read. It was nothing spectacular, but it was an interesting glimpse into the world of advertising.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews