Title: S : A Novel
Publisher: Andre Deutsch, London, UK
Publication Date: 1988
Binding: Hard Cover
Book Condition: NEW
Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
Edition: First
Signed: By author
With signature & flourishing ink dedication on front free endpaper "For Satya-my friend- from John. 17/8/93. Safe journey!".
Carole Satyamurti (1939-2019) was a British poet, sociologist, and translator who grew up in Kent, and lived in North America, Singapore and Uganda. She spent ten years writing the English version of the Mahabharata, won the National Poetry Competition in 1986 & and was a visitor in the Creative Writing Program at the College of Charleston, South Carolina. Crazyhorse is published every fall and spring by the College of Charleston, South Carolina. The magazine publishes fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and has featured the work of John Updike. The two writers became friends from their association at that University. Satyamurti was also highly knowledgeable about Hinduism and Sanskrit and Updike's S: A Novel is largely about Hinduism- so they had a lot in common at that time.
John Hoyer Updike (1932 - 2009) wrote more than 20 novels, dozens of short stories as well as poetry, literary criticism and children's books. Best known for his "Rabbit" series (the novels Rabbit Is Rich of 1982 and Rabbit at Rest of 1990 awarded the Pulitzer). Skilled in "the American small town, Protestant middle class", in this novel our protagnist also experiences "personal turmoil" while still sensitive to family obligations. This is the story of ''S''. Told through through letters written by Sarah P. Worth, a 42-year-old Massachusetts woman who quits her wealthy home & wealthy physician husband for the Arizona ashram of guru Shri Arhat Mindadali. Enamored with the offerings of the Hindu mystic, struggling along with other fellow sannyasins (pilgrims) aspiring to achieve moksha (salvation), while constantly writing to her husband, daughter, brother, dentist, hairdresser, psychiatrist, and bank manager. All to keep her old world in order. while creating a new one for herself.
Provenance: Acquired 2/12/2020 from Carole's widower Martin from their family home in Crouch End London.