Turbott Wolfe

an absolutely brilliant novel, concise and intense and thought-provoking while allowing for occasion bits of wry humor and, towards the murky conclusion, outright hysterics. plomer tells the story of w.p. telling the story of a dying turbott wolfe telling the story of a young turbott wolfe as he interacts with native south africans. the superficial theme of race relations my have gotten this book reprinted and heralded by nadine gordimer, but its real worth is in the character of wolfe, a bizarre combination of gatsby and prufrock (and a possible genius), ultimately failing in a great attempt of re-creation. pay special attention to plomer's cat-thought descriptions; they're fleeting but brilliant.