THE RECOGNITIONS by William Gaddis

Paperback, 992 pages
Published 2020 by NYRB Classics (first published 1955)
ISBN: 9781681374666

My review in Splice:

My J R Review:

Online Annotations for The Recognitions:

Books used for this video:
"William Gaddis: Bloom's Modern Critical Views"

"A Reader's Guide to William Gaddis's "The Recognitions"" by Steven Moore

"Nobody Grew but the Business: On the Life and Work of William Gaddis" by Joseph Tabbi

"William Gaddis: Expanded Edition" by Steven Moore

"In Recognition of William Gaddis"

"The Review of Contemporary Fiction: Fall 2001: Gilbert Sorrentino/William Gaddis/Mary Caponegro/Margery Latimer"

"The Paris Review Interviews, II"

"The Ethics of Indeterminacy in the Novels of William Gaddis" by Gregory Comnes

#leafbyleaf #booktube #bookreview #literature #williamgaddis #nyrb #therecognitions

[lucaseravalli]

Congratulations on an extremely interesting video: I have finished reading "The Recognitions" just two days ago so I really enjoyed your comments that helped me understanding some elements I kind of overlooked.

One point I keep wondering on: don't you get the feeling that the whole point of the book about fake/true is more on the ambiguity of this dicotomy and on the dangers of trying to be "original" rather than a simple stigmatization of plagiarism and forgery? The book itself is taking so much elements from other masterpieces (Faust, Dante's Inferno, Eliot, Shakespeare, you know all of them) that I got the feeling Gaddis was trying to insinuate that his book could be considered as an act of plagiarism, in certain ways.
There is this quote concerning Otto, an important character of the story (sorry it may be not verbatim, as I am back-translating from the book translated in Italian that I read): "Otto is part of a serie of copies of an original that never existed".
Is it Gaddis talking about Otto as a person inside the book, or as a character of the book? Is it saying the the character Otto is not "original"?


On the final note, I think there is a little mix-up when you talk about Wyatt/Stephen linking up with Frank Sinisterra: this happens in San Zwingli at the cemetery, not in the monastery. Sinisterra tries to get Wyatt's help to forge a mummy (the n-th time there is a forgery in this book) to sell to Kuvetli (who is Inonunu, a spy working with Basil Valentine). In the monastery Wyatt/Stephen meets Ludy, while we learn that Sinisterra was killed by Kuvetli, as he was carrying the fake passport of Mr.Yak.

[jacobharris]

Just completed my first run through. Certainly the most challenging read I've undertaken yet, and I'm grateful to have its entirety inside of my mind now, always able to come back and ponder it. Thanks for introducing me to it, Chris!

Of all things I think the following quote resonates most with me: “and you keep erasing, and altering, and adding, always trying to account for this accumulation, to order it, to locate every particle in its place in one whole . . .” Not only in how we try to force all ideas into singular works of art, but in the way we move forth always acquiring new ideas and experiences, weighing them all, continually re-determining our sense of self. And this happens to us also as we read The Recognitions. He splatters the wall with all of the different types of people we can be, as well as the ones we already are, and we're forced to analyze that mirror. This, to me, is likely to be the main "Recognition" which relates itself to me through the novel.

[samueltadams]

A bit over halfway on the first reread 15 years later, this video was a delight, thank you!

[tarico]

Your mentioning Harold Bloom gives me the chance to warn others to NOT read his preface to Blood Meridian before reading McCarthy's classic war novel. Bloom reveals a key plot element that I would have much rather been surprised by.

[thedialectic]

You've sold me. I had no idea of this author or book before this video. It was completely coherent. I am always impressed by your highly-attuned skill of reading. It is a blessing and an inspiration for my own reading life.

[evannece]

I just came back to this video after watching your new one on Gravity's Rainbow. As the year ends I wanted to thank you for making all of these. Your channel (among others like Orpheus and Paperbird) has been so important to reenergizing my reading over these past couple years. At a time when so much else in life is stagnant my relationship with books has never felt so rich or dynamic. Thanks for helping to light that spark.

I look forward to the eventual Satantango length video on Bottom's Dream. Best wishes in 2022.

[MarcNash]

Having just completed it for the first time, all I can say is yeah! There were certain descriptive passages, usually opening up a chapter, where it felt like the reader was being dawn into a painting simply through Gaddis' writing. It's an extraordinary work for sure. Thanks for your great insights in this video.

[stepankurecka]

I have seen it once, I have seen it twice, and now, once I finally get to write about the man himself, I am using you as a source of great sources for my own work, so thank you for that, thank you for you channel!

[makebelievestunt]

"The Recognitions demands to be reread." So true. . . I just read the final page, put down the novel, and realized that I have to read it again. I did reserve the final half of your video until I'd finished the book. Great insight! Thanks.

[michael.j.johnson]

One of the best novels I’ve ever read. Enjoyed this video, thank you

[human.yoohoo]

The format for this video is very well done. Thank you for the links especially!

[mandys]

THIS is an amazing analysis:::: what you said about his use of the ellipsis, and furthermore that it is a part of a certain style or tradition- - - i never heard of that! ~~~ Thanks!

[readreadofficial]

Just finished this today! Great to hear your thoughts about this amazing book.

[rickharsch]

The video is definitely worthwhile: you fail well, which is the apotheosis of criticism.

[literatureconfidential]

This is incredibly insightful. I plan on reading this book next year for the first time and I'm both incredibly excited and genuinely scared at the same time. Thanks for posting this and keep up the great content.

[peyton]

Excellent video! I think you’ve convinced me to do a reread at some point. TR really hooked me at the beginning, although it lost me as it went on. But I missed so many things! I think the idea that “everything is plot” may be the key.

[Spencer-oixx]

Appreciate your efforts and insights on this incredible book

[jD-Pgs]

This morning I completed my first read through, a journey that has taken at least two months (I'm a slow and careful reader), helped immensley by Mr Moore's online annotations.

The Recognitions has left me bereft!
Great literature is our alternative to a disappointing reality, to quote Nabokov, "Great novels are great fairy tales".

The above Nabokov line pinched from Steven Moore's comment about another book in The Novel an alternative history, which I dip in and out of between finishing and starting another book.

Really good vid Chris. A great offering.

[aaronosrs]

About to come to the end of my journey with the Recognitions, although, I really want to re-read this masterpiece very soon. So depressing, yet so funny and don’t even get started on the prose - I honestly can’t fathom how Gaddis wrote such a thing. Thank you for your great review!

[khairulhaaziq]

Hi Chris! I love your videos! I hope you can make a video about active reading!