About the book
This story of raging comedy and despair centers on the tempestuous marriage of an heiress and a Vietnam veteran. From their \"carpenter gothic\" rented house, Paul sets himself up as a media consultant for Reverend Ude, an evangelist mounting a grand crusade that conveniently suits a mining combine bidding to take over an ore strike on the site of Ude's African mission. At the still center of the breakneck action--revealed in Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogeis Paul's wife, Liz, and over it all looms the shadowy figure of McCandless, a geologist from whom Paul and Liz rent their house. As Paul mishandles the situation, his wife takes the geologist to her bed and a fire and aborted assassination occur; Ude issues a call to arms as harrowing as any Jeremiad--and Armageddon comes rapidly closer. Displaying Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogue, and his startling treatments of violence and sexuality, Carpenter's Gothic \"shows again that Gaddis is among the first rank of contemporary American writers\" (Malcolm Bradbury, The Washington Post Book World).
Editions of Carpenter's Gothic
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780670697939
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780141182223
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780140089936
Read an Excerpt
This story of raging comedy and despair centers on the tempestuous marriage of an heiress and a Vietnam veteran. From their \"carpenter gothic\" rented house, Paul sets himself up as a media consultant for Reverend Ude, an evangelist mounting a grand crusade that conveniently suits a mining combine bidding to take over an ore strike on the site of Ude's African mission. At the still center of the breakneck action--revealed in Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogeis Paul's wife, Liz, and over it all looms the shadowy figure of McCandless, a geologist from whom Paul and Liz rent their house. As Paul mishandles the situation, his wife takes the geologist to her bed and a fire and aborted assassination occur; Ude issues a call to arms as harrowing as any Jeremiad--and Armageddon comes rapidly closer. Displaying Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogue, and his startling treatments of violence and sexuality, Carpenter's Gothic \"shows again that Gaddis is among the first rank of contemporary American writers\" (Malcolm Bradbury, The Washington Post Book World).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carpenter's Gothic about?
This story of raging comedy and despair centers on the tempestuous marriage of an heiress and a Vietnam veteran. From their \"carpenter gothic\" rented house, Paul sets himself up as a media consultant for Reverend Ude, an evangelist mounting a grand crusade that conveniently suits a mining combine bidding to take over an ore strike on the site of Ude's African mission. At the still center of the breakneck action--revealed in Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogeis Paul's wife, Liz, and over it all looms the shadowy figure of McCandless, a geologist from whom Paul and Liz rent their house. As Paul mishandles the situation, his wife takes the geologist to her bed and a fire and aborted assassination occur; Ude issues a call to arms as harrowing as any Jeremiad--and Armageddon comes rapidly closer. Displaying Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogue, and his startling treatments of violence and sexuality, Carpenter's Gothic \"shows again that Gaddis is among the first rank of contemporary American writers\" (Malcolm Bradbury, The Washington Post Book World).
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Carpenter's Gothic?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of Carpenter's Gothic?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780670697939
Is Carpenter's Gothic part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Carpenter's Gothic?
William Gaddis
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Carpenter's Gothic is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780670697939) and paperback(ISBN 9780141182223) and paperback(ISBN 9780140089936)
Where can I buy Carpenter's Gothic online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Carpenter's Gothic?