The Man Who Had Everything

by Louis Bromfield

First hardcover edition of Bromfield novel.

Genres: Classics

274 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Louis Bromfield was an American author and conservationist who gained international recognition winning the Pulitzer Prize and pioneering innovative scientific farming concepts.

Bromfield studied agriculture at Cornell University from 1914 to 1916,[1] but transferred to Columbia University to study journalism. While at Columbia University, Louis Bromfield was initiated into the fraternal organization Phi Delta Theta. His time at Columbia would be short lived and he left after less than a year to go to war. After serving with the American Field Service in World War I and being awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor, he returned to New York City and found work as a reporter. In 1924, his first novel, The Green Bay Tree, won instant acclaim. He won the 1927 Pulitzer Prize for best novel for Early Autumn. All of his 30 books were best-sellers, and many, such as The Rains Came and Mrs. Parkington, were made into successful motion pictures.

photograph by: Carl Van Vechten

Reviews

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Floyd, one of the original owners of my 1935 copy of this book, wrote on page 93 at the beginning of part two "This is no good at all." He also wrote "This book is no good" on the last page. I hate to say it but I'm inclined to agree with him. The Man Who Had Everything was so mind bogglingly dull and not much happens. I only kept reading to see if I ended up agreeing with Mr. Floyd.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably my most favorite book of Bromfield's I have read so far. I'm interested in his writings because I grew up not far from his Malabar Farm and Pleasant Valley.

If you're interested in a book with a lot of dialogue between characters, this is not the book for you. It IS a book with a lot of internal dialogue and internal conflict of a man trying to figure out who he is and why he is not satisfied with the things American society has told him would bring him happiness.

[Foteiniadal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written novel, not especially surprising. Great deal of Europe v. America personality comparison (Europeans tied to history and complacent; American rootless and striving) but not too overwhelming.