Worth the Read – Being There – Jerry Kosinski

Jerzy Kosinski is an accomplished writer. His award winning work, Painted Bird assures his name retains a place in the world of Letters. His writing career spanned three decades and he taught at both Princeton and Yale.

As books go Being There is a short work at 142 page. His main character Chance is a simple man, in fact, a gardener. His world comprises labor in a garden and viewing television. From his toil in the good earth and his isolated exposure to television media, his life philosophy develops and is simple – but mistaken for complex.

A lifelong ward of a wealthy Wall Street tycoon, Chance worked in isolation from the outside world. When the master of the house passes away, Chance through a misunderstanding becomes Chauncey Gardiner. Chance loses the protection of his tidy world and through circumstances finds himself in the society of financiers, statesmen and political elite.

What evolves is a mixture of misunderstanding and meaning. Kosinski creates through Chance a brew of wisdom and madcap buffoonery. His messages are received as visionary. His words received as reflected light, full of pattern and color. Chance is intent and reflecting.

As a satire of our modern media world, there is no substitute for Being There.

Being There – Worth the Read

Jerzy Kosinski wrote nine novels, he died in 1991.


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *