290. Antic Hay

Antic Hay
Aldous Huxley

1923
Around 350 pages

I am getting close to the 300 milestone, which will surely call for some celebratory cake and crumpets. Although a quick perusal of those final last ten novels doesn't have me too excited about what lies in store. Maybe they will prove me wrong.

It's difficult to give a plot summary about this one. Theodore Gumbril ambles around London, unsure of how he'll adjust to a post-war setting. He even resorts to dressing up as "The Complete Man." "The Complete Man" wears a false beard and approaches women he doesn't know in public. Evidently this book has inspired many copycats.

Like all Huxley works, this was deeply philosophical. There really wasn't much of a plot. I prefer novels that a bit more grounded.  He hasn't yet perfected his storytelling technique yet, although this is still a thematic improvement from Crome Yellow.

I understand this book being cut from future editions, but you can do worse than a Huxley novel.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Mentioned in Brideshead Revisted. 

UP NEXT: Cane by Jean Toomer.