Fat city by leonard gardner english compact disc book free shipping. In 1972, gardner wrote the screenplay to adapt fat city into one of the saddest movies ever filmed, directed by john huston. Fat city souple french edition by gardner, leonard. The cleveland plain dealer called gardner a craftsman of the first magnitude. Fat city by leonard gardner 2015, paperback for sale. The reissue of fat city, leonard gardner s pitchperfect account of boxing, bluecollar bewilderment and the battle of the sexes, is cause for celebration, and reflection. The two main characters, boxers both, stumble from one burden to one hope and back to others again. The main characters of this fiction, sports and games story are. A sketch of leonard gardner in the new york times recently reminded me how much i loved this book when it was published, and it proved to be as durable as possibly moreso than gardner as he showed a reporter around the novels settings. Fat city, by leonard gardner, upends the triumphalist cliches of boxing stories, in which a palooka from nowhere overcomes all obstacles through fierce dedication and hard work and wins the title.
The following is from leonard gardner s 1969 novel, fat city. Fat city by gardner, leonard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Fat city is a novel set in the world of smalltime boxing in stockton, california in the 1950s. Stockton is noted for its high crime rate and its low. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. Fat city, leonard gardners novel of the sport of busted beaks. The book is set in the city of stockton, in californias central valley, where gardner grew up. Fat city is a novel about the indestructibility of of hope, the anguish and comedy of the human condition. Leonard gardner wrote fat city as a moody elegy to the wayward dreamers who fight in tanktown arenas, then retreat to flophouses and shotgun weddings, day labor and rotgut drinking binges. The following is from leonard gardners 1969 novel, fat city. One of the alltime great onehit wonder novels literary hub. Pdf fat city book by leonard gardner free download 183.
Fat city is a vivid novel of allegiance and defeat, of the potent promise of the good life and the desperation and drink that waylay those whom it eludes. In 1969, leonard gardner s novel fat city was published. Gardner wrote the screenplay for the movie, directed by john huston, in 1972. Gardners 1969 novel fat city is an american classic whose stature has increased over the years. He is now eightyfive, tall, lanky, and cordial, with a full head of hair more brown than gray. Leonard gardner wrote fat city, a critically acclaimed boxing novel set in stockton, in 1969 his writing influenced literary heavyweights such as raymond carver, richard ford and denis. Its prestige has grown since its publication, due to critical acclaim from joan didion and walker percy, among others. Fat city author still a contender the sacramento bee. Fat city leonard gardner pb california fiction 1996. Fat city leonard gardner s short novel, fat city, set in stockton, california in the mid1950s, appeared in 1969. When farrar, straus and giroux first published leonard gardner s fat city in 1969, the novel created a bit of a stir.
Paul wilner, san francisco chronicle a slim, taut book that has earned its status as a classic by dint of its immaculate, evocative prose, a compassionate but. First published in 1969, and set a decade earlier, fat city is leonard gardner s only novel. Its a boxers work, not a punchers, with an admirable economy. It tells the story of two young boxers out of stockton. Fat city is a novel about the sporting life like no other ever written. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 183 pages and is available in paperback format. In california, finding fat city with the man who wrote it the new. Denis johnson is the author of eight novels, one novella, one book of short stories, three collections of poetry, two collections. First published in 1969, and set a decade earlier, fat city is leonard gardners only novel.
Gardner s only novel, the book is considered a classic of boxing fiction. His screen adaptation of fat city was made into an acclaimed 1972 film. The lights of a farm came on in the brown distance where patches of. The first edition of the novel was published in 1969, and was written by leonard gardner. Fat chance, in leonard gardner s grim, sometimes funny, novel of dreams chased and dreams lost in the streets, fighters gyms, fields, bars, and residential hotels of stockton, california. It is a universal story of grim realities and toxic delusions. Leonard gardners fat city in 1969, the novel created a bit of a stir.
May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Fat city by leonard gardner intermittencies of the mind. Set in stockton, gardners hometown he now lives in marin county, it recounts. Between the ages of 19 and 25 i studied leonard gardner s book so closely that i began to fear id never be able to write anything but imitations of it. In california, finding fat city with the man who wrote it stockton inspired leonard gardner s acclaimed 1969 novel. Fat city by leonard gardner 9780520206571 paperback. The book has been awarded with national book award finalist. The book remains in print in a series of novels based in california called california fiction. Details about fat city leonard gardner pb california fiction 1996 edition. To say that fat city is about boxing would be like saying that in search of lost time is about parties in paris or mobydick is about whaling.
Fat city was first published in 1969 and is the only novel by leonard gardner. On the streets with him now, its clear much has changed. Gardners only novel, the book is considered a classic of boxing fiction. George kimball, the sweet science leonard gardner wrote fat city as a moody elegy to the wayward dreamers who fight in tanktown arenas, then retreat to flophouses and shotgun weddings, day labor and rotgut drinking binges. The novel is set in stockton, ca, fifty miles from my doorstep and scarcely over a hundred miles from where i grew up in the sacramento valley, and it has the same ring of geographical authenticity and the same clean, clear prose that helped endear me to hard rain. Fat city is a vivid novel of defiance and struggle, of the potent promise of the good life and the desperation and drink that waylay those whom it eludes.
Leonard gardner s deeply affecting portrayal of the anxieties and hopes of his characters achieves an unexpected universality that reaches out to readers well beyond the bounds of this world. Leonard gardner, quote from fat city the sky darkened, the liquid singing of the blackbirds diminished and ceased, mud hens swam back to shore, climbed up the banks and huddled in the willows. The reissue of fat city, leonard gardners pitchperfect account of boxing, bluecollar bewilderment and the battle of the sexes, is cause for. His screen adaptation of fat city was made into a film by john huston. A guggenheim fellow, he lives in northern california. I have a strong sense of mortality, gardner said in an interview with life magazine i feel death hovering about me.
Free download or read online fat city pdf epub book. Possible ex library copy, thatll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. A muscular novel about boxers in small town california in the 50s. The book is widely considered a classic of boxing fiction. Fat city tells the story of two boxers from the backwater. His screen adaptation of fat city was made into a film by john. Stockton inspired leonard gardners acclaimed 1969 novel.
Gardner has laid claim to a locale that others have explored, but seldom with such accuracy and control. Leonard gardner s short novel, fat city, set in stockton, california in the mid1950s, appeared in 1969. In california, finding fat city with the man who wrote. Gardner s novel fat city is set in the boxing world of stockton, california circa 19401950. Fat city is a novel by leonard gardner published in 1969. Its prestige has grown since its publication, due to critical acclaim from joan didion. A good writer is a magpie, searching other peoples sentences for something that glimmers. It a story about boxing and drinking in stockton, california, about losers losing. The conviction, authenticity, and economy of means that characterize the novel found wide admiration among. Gardner lives in marin county, california, about a hundred miles from stockton. Jane kivik free download or read online fat city pdf epub book.
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