Hello—
I have carefully researched your question and have written a concise
and detailed summary for you:
“The Acrobats” was Mordecai Richler’s first book. Published in 1954 by
Maclean Hunter Canadian Publishing Ltd. and recently reissued by
McClelland & Stewart, “The Acrobats” takes place during a spring
fiesta in Valencia, Spain, in 1951, in the aftermath of the Spanish
Civil War.
Richler was 19 years old in 1951 and that year he left Montreal for
two years in France and Spain. In “The Acrobats,” Richler tells the
story of many different types of people: homosexuals and
heterosexuals, communists and fascists, and gentiles and Jews.
The book is a tale of sex and debauchery. It’s written as if Richler
is trying to get a charge out of older readers and those who would be
offended by opposing viewpoints. He wrote about Canadian society,
"Mediocrity draped in the maple leaf! Sonnets by the aging virgin
granddaughters of Tory tradesmen evoking the memories of rather
un-Presbyterian passions ... Kultchir as celebrated by imperial favour
annually consisting of 50 gold guineas for the horse that wins the
King's Plate and an honorary award for either virgin poetess or pipe-
smoking historian-novelist."
The book is centered around the story of Andre Bennett, a painter. His
Jewish girlfriend, Toni, recently had an abortion. And despite the
fact his parents are of considerable means, he left their Westmount
home in search of himself.
When Bennett arrived in Valencia, it was the last day of a fiesta. As
fireworks lit up the sky, Bennett stood on a bridge. That’s where he
met Roger Kraus, a Nazi on the run. Kraus shadowed Bennett, watched
him paint, and learned from him every day and every night. Bennett’s
girlfriend, Toni, followed him to Valencia. She tried to convince him
to return to Canada and be responsible. She wanted to start a family.
The natives of Valencia were in an uproar. Both people who grew up
there and those from outside the country nightly were only interested
in everything they’ve learned was bad for them. Bennett stayed in a
rat-infested hotel, and during his visit encountered the hypocrisy of
those who are considered “normal.” They considered the rich better
people than those without as many means. They considered heterosexuals
“moral” people; and homosexuals (Richler was one of the first to refer
to homosexuals as “gay”) evil. They considered Jews the opposition;
gentiles the heroes. Richler wrote in Bennett’s voice, "But for the
most part their appreciation of my stuff is snobbery, and if they were
more bourgeois they would have about as much use for art as their
fellows. It's just as true that their tremendous concern with social
justice is directly related too their own poverty and as much expected
of them as is the puerility and such that we get from the bourgeois.
Christ, there's nothing unusual about being a bourgeois or a worker.
It is the man who is unusual - the man who rises above the
restrictions of his own class to assert himself as an individual and
humanitarian. It's pretty damn elementary to be aware of social
injustice and poetic truth and beauty but to be capable of empathy, to
understand the failings of a man - any man - even as you condemn him,
well ... Look, every human being is to be approached with a sense of
wonder. The rest is crap, or incidental."
Bennett encountered these deviants and discussed them as if they’re
normal and that the Gentiles, heterosexuals, and rich were the ones
who were the hypocrites. Bennett encountered war, discovered alcohol,
and offered countless sexual inuendos.
Bennett also met up with three Americans, Jessie, her husband Barney,
and her gay brother Derek. Bennett saw this group as disgusting.
However, he found himself torn between being offended by the trio and
being attracted to Jessie. While people from North America always
leave a bad taste in his mouth, he couldn’t resist.
Very few members of the North American media reviewed “The Acrobats.”
But the New York Times wrote, "With this novel out of his system…
[Richler's future books]… may be entirely mature and rewarding."
Further, I found you may purchase “The Acrobats,” including a copy
from the first edition of the novel. The link is
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/OopBooks/oopResultsTitle.asp?userid=0EE370K6NA&author=Mordecai+richler&rstart=1&WID=927943
If you’d like to read more about Mordecai Richler, I found the
following sources for you:
Mordecai Richler then and now. (Brief Article)(Editorial) ANTHONY
WILSON-SMITH.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p2
Mark Mordecai Remembered: Richler's work, and feisty spirit, are still
with us. (Brief Article) ANTHONY WILSON-SMITH.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p20
Mark He Got 'Better and Better': Editor Robert Gottlieb recalls a
close friend who 'improved on a large talent'. (Gottlieb comments on
his relationship with Mordecai Richler)
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p22
Mark Mordecai my pal: An intimate since high school remembers his
dryly funny friend. (Jack Rabinovitch remembers Mordecai
Richler)(Brief Article)
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p24
Mark Sex and Contempt: Richler's first book showed promise -- and
flashes of sardonic wit. (Acrobats)(Brief Article) BRIAN BETHUNE.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p26
Mark Callow, Courageous: Oh, to be young, fun-loving and foolish on
Ibiza. (author recounts his visit to Spain with Mordecai
Richler)(Brief Article) WILLIAM WEINTRAUB.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p30
Mark Comrades in Satire: Aislin, aka Terry Mosher, reflects on a man
he loved to caricature. (Mordecai Richler)(Brief Article)
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p31
Mark Two or three things I know about grief. (Emma Richler remembers
the news of her father's, Mordecai Richler's, death) EMMA RICHLER.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p32
Mark St. Urbain's Prodigal Scold: During a long exile and after his
return, Richler was unmerciful about home. (Mordecai Richler) DANIEL
POLIQUIN.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p36
Mark 'A man who enjoyed loving': The wife he adored, and treasured as
an editor, evokes the private Mordecai. (Florence Richler remembers
her husband Mordecai Richler)(Interview)
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p40
Mark 'Such a great laugh and a moral compass'. (Mordecai Richler as a
father)(Brief Article) DANIEL RICHLER.
Maclean's June 24, 2002 p42
Mark Passages. (briefs)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Maclean's Dec 31, 2001 p17
Mark What to think of Mordecai Richler (1931-2001). (Obituary) David
J. Dooley.
Catholic Insight Oct 2001 v9 i8 p36
Mark Mordecai Richler, 1931-2001. Mark Steyn.
New Criterion Sept 2001 v20 i1 p123
Mark Hitting below the belt: Mordecai Richler's post-mortem critics
are among those whose real enemy is accuracy. But Richler was
incorruptible. (Brief Article) BARBARA AMIEL.
Maclean's August 13, 2001 p16
Mark Eclectica. (various)(Brief Article)(Column) Kevin Michael Grace.
The Report Newsmagazine July 30, 2001 pNA
Mark The Record. (brief obits)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
The Report Newsmagazine July 30, 2001 pNA
Mark OBITUARIES. (Obituary)
Variety July 23, 2001 v383 i9 p47 Bus.Coll.: 133Y3062.
Mark The apprenticeship of Mordecai. (Richler )(Brief
Article)(Obituary) ANTHONY WILSON-SMITH.
Maclean's July 16, 2001 p2
Mark Fearless -- and fun: Mordecai Richler took on the tight little
world of Canadian nationalism and the deadly world of political
correctness. (Brief Article)(Obituary)(Column) Barbara Amiel.
Maclean's July 16, 2001 p14
View text and retrieval choices
To conduct this research and write this summary, I used Infotrac,
local library databases, book store information, book reviews, and
even obtained a partial copy of the book!
I hope this is as detailed and as concise a summary as you are looking
for. If you need any clarification or revision, please don't hesitate
to ask.
darrel-ga |
