The Actual (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Saul Bellow
- First Published: 1997
- Type of Work: Novella
- Time of Work: The 1990’s
- Setting: Chicago
- Principal Characters: Harry Trellman, Amy Wustrin, Sigmund Adletsky
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Love or romance, Twentieth century, Marriage, Sin or Original sin, Orphans or orphanages, Real estate, Millionaires
- Locales: Chicago, IL
The title of this work calls a peculiar attention to itself—even as the action wanders somewhat gingerly, never quite achieving the tightness of plot customary in short fiction. In other words, the story itself seems to elude true “actualization” while questions dealing with “actuality” are raised and explored with wit and imagination. The many meanings of “actual” are all involved and orchestrated in such a manner that the near-absence of an “actual” plot does little to weaken the reader’s sense of experiencing a completely fashioned and finished story.
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