The Enormous Room

Written by America's most inventive poet, "The Enormous Room" is a book of prose set in a French detention camp during World War One. It is a coming-of-age story in which events happen, not always to the narrator (E.E. Cummings), but to the inhabitants of a place that serves as a microcosm for all the folly and brutality of war itself. As a war narrative it is unique -- unlike Hemingway's "Farewell to Arms" or Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front," the central story doesn't take place on the front lines. The plot of the book is basically non-linear, with the exception of the first three or four chapters, and several passages are written in French (thankfully a glossary of foreign terms is printed at the back of the book). I would describe Cummings' story as a stream-of-consciousness dialogue with himself, written in the language of a talented budding poet. Most memorable are the wonderful characters Cummings encountered during his short stay at La Ferte Mace, the name of the camp in which he was interned. They are objects of torn humanity and how terrible it must have been for him to leave them, knowing that upon his release many would languish in prison for the rest of their lives. "The Enormous Room" is a unique historical fiction. It is not an easy read, but it is one of those books that is even more difficult to put down. I have never read another book quite like it. [P.S.: There are two editions of the book, one published by Boni & Liveright and the other by Penquin Classics. The Liveright edition is the better one (and naturally harder to locate online or in book stores), and includes samples of drawings that Cummings made during his confinement.]

Reading Cumming's poetry was never a priority in my school days, except such excerpts as appeared in my far from comprehensive American Lit book. After reading this, I wish I'd paid more attention to this truly gifted writer. The Enormous Room is the story of Cumming's three month incarceration at La Ferte Mace, a squalid French prison camp. Cummings is locked up as accessory to exercise of free speech, his friend B. (William Brown) having written a letter with some pro German sentiments. What Cummings experienced in those three months and the stories of the men and women he met are, despite the straits of the polyglot texture of the book, never other than fascinating. At moments touching (the stories of the Surplice and The Wanderer's family), hilarious (the description of the Man In the Orange Cap is hysterical), and maddening (the smoking of the four les putains), this is a brilliant weft of memorable characters and not a little invective for the slipshod French goverment.Something I noticed. Though the book claims as its primary influence Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, I noticed a similarity with Thoreau's Walden. In both books, there is the idea of self-abnegation breeding liberty and peace of mind. The idea is to shear away all luxuries, all privileges. But Thoreau had one very important luxury to his credit: Free will. Whereas Thoreau chose his isolated and straitened existence near Walden Pond, Cummings' was involuntary. So, if the touchstone of freedom both men share is valid, is not Cummings, by virtue of the unrequested nature of his imprisonment, the freer of the two men?This is a fascinating, thought provoking, ribald and intelligent book. I only regret that the Fighting Sheeney was never given commupance...

I am confused as to why the editorial review described this as a novel - it is NOT a novel. The edition that I have of this book has a foreword by Robert Graves & includes letters by cummings' father to the government during his imprisonment. That edition calls this a biography/narrative.That being said - if you're a fan of cummings' poetry as I am, this book goes a long way towards explaining his transition from an idealistic youth into the more cynical man who manages to retain an appreciation for the beautiful. Check out "etc.: the unpublished poems of e. e. cummings"; I recommend it in addition to this, but if the narrative of "enormous room" bothers you, "etc." shows the transformation through poetry and brief editorial notes. Basically, I recommend this book because of the insight, the flow of the narrative (although it WAS occasionally hard to follow), and the descriptiveness of the narrative which is very reminiscent of his poetry. It's great to see this finally back in print.

This book gives so much insight into cummings, not to mention it's just a great book. The characters are amazing; he certainly has a way with them. Totally great, and eaiser to read (a.k.a. understand quickly) than most of his poetry! (His other novel, Eimi, is also extememly interesting, but very difficult to read. It's like 200 pages of his wackier poems.) I would say, if you really want to get to know cummings, you have to read this book.

First published in 1922, THE ENORMOUS ROOM, is Edward E. Cummings's remembrance of his six-months stay in a French detention center before World War I. Almost never published, this odd little book details how Cummings and another American,working as volunteer ambulance-drivers, were picked up on suspicion of treason and then held in a kind of limbo, in "The Enormous Room," with other unfortunates whose only crime was not being French, and were hence also considered traitors. The almost six months spent imprisoned under horrendous conditions left indelible memories of the immigrants Cummings met there, and also shaped his distrust for all in authority. The book may be slighly difficult for readers without a knowledge of a bit of French, but the delighful and swarmy character-descriptions that Cummings draws, should more than compensate for this. This book is eccentric, exquisitely written, and a true treat for any Cummings admirer who yearns for more insight into his life --before he was a poet, and before he was "e.e."