The Legend of the Holy Drinker by Joseph Roth, Michael Hofmann, 1862074712, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

God knows it's beautiful

In the whole, sordid history of western literature, there have lived only three people who have possessed the genius and discipline to write prose so intensely fragile that the whole story would collapse on the removal of a single word: Joseph Roth, Ernest Hemingway and myself.

a minimalist drunk

this really is a very good example of an accomplished author telling an allegorical tale with ruthless efficiency. others have made the point, but there are few words here that seem out of place. it does seem a remarkable coincidence that the subject matter so eerily reflects the end of the author's life and yet appears to have little else autobiographical in it, but perhaps that is the neatest twist to the tale.

the tale is a slightly peculiar one of hope and despair and it poses the question - 'do miracles happen?'. the main character believes that this is is what his 'good luck' amounts to. though a lowly bum he finds salvation through a kindly stranger and a series of 'fortunate circumstances'.

the style is superb and i am rather fond of the message, but i didn't think the character or the scenario were sufficiently developed for this to be truly engaging and while i dont think that would have been roth's intention i still found it a slight disappointment. someone mentioned 'the old man & the sea' and i suspect one could also look to marquez's 'chronicle of a death foretold' as somewhat fuller examples of a similarly well-executed style of novella.

A must

First time I read this book, it did impact me profoundly. Few years later I had the opportunity to see the film, not available on DVD yet. Mr Hauer's performance is memorable and the entire setting fantastic.

There is one thing I would like to say about the book and the film: It can actually change the way someone sees things and consequently have a major impact on your life

Fantastic film: an inner-fight between the "ideal me" and the "Ideal of me"

A beautiful little tale

Hardly even qualifying for the title novella, this long short story is another one of those tales that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and your eyes prickle when you come to the end. In the space of a few pages Roth caught superbly the trial most of do battle with daily -- trying to be good yet occasionally veering from the path through stupidity, weakness or even good intentions. Reading it -- in Hoffman's superb translation, with not a word wrong or a phrase that is infelicitous -- is one of those experiences that makes you remember where you were and what you were doing before you sat down to read. It is a superb little story; a gem. (And as for the apology about the title, contained in the preface -- could you think of anything catchier or more apposite when you finish it?)

Beautifully simple

This novel is very short, but is beautiful and delightful in its condensed and minimal form. I almost did not notice the fact that I finished reading this in one hour - it really was as involving and achieved as a full-length novel. Read this if you are an alcoholic. Read this if you are looking for the most precise prose (and see Hem's Old Man and the Sea). It is a wonderful little story, and so poetically written. Especially under the circumstances. A major work of genius to remember!

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