Aurora Dawn: Or, The True History of Andrew Reale

Herman Wouk's first novel, Aurora Dawn, is a great satire of the modern advertising business (circa 1937) and the world it served. It lampoons the power of advertising (radio in this case), consumerism, the callowness and ambition of youth, the gullibility and boorishness of the American public, imperious corporate executives who base business decisions on ego, the duplicity and false modesty of "young ladies," public relations, the press/paparazzi, egomaniacal artists, arrivistes, religion, and popular culture. The plot and its telling remind me very much of Tom Wolfe's novels. Wouk does tell this morality tale in the slightly pompous, flowery style of an old-time radio announcer or a turn-of-the-century penny novelist. However, this is part of the charm -- and it gives him an opportunity to work in some incisive, memorable social observations in a dry, humorous way. The interesting thing is that this same story could be told today -- just substitute TV or Internet advertising. Wouk was eerily prescient about future events and trends. Proving that basic human nature doesn't change, I guess.

I don't know if it is accurate to say that this novel is not as good as Wouk's masterpieces (Caine Mutiny, Winds of War, etc.), because it is an entirely different genre. As an example of satire, Aurora Dawn excels in much the same way that the Caine Mutiny excels as a war novel. Wouk very cleverly mocks the modern world, from psychiatry, to advertising, to irreligiousness. An easy, enjoyable read.

"Aurora Dawn" was Herman Wouk's first book, and while it is an enjoyable read, it is not comparable to his masterpieces like "The Caine Mutiny" or "Marjorie Morningstar." This tale of a young man in advertising who is determined to rise to the top at all costs is told in a flippant, almost sarcastic style. The author keeps intruding himself into the tale with comments on how the story is going, which can be annoying even though it yields some of the book's most humorous lines. The characters are deftly drawn but not especially sympathetic. This book is a quick and enjoyable read, and has some interesting takes on the advertising business. Just don't expect one of Wouk's masterpieces.