The Natural – July 7, 2003 PDF

The Natural Paperback – July 7, 2003
Author: Visit ‘s Bernard Malamud Page ID: 0374502005

.com Review

Roy Hobbs, the protagonist of The Natural, makes the mistake of pronouncing aloud his dream: to be the best there ever was. Such hubris, of course, invites divine intervention, but the brilliance of Bernard Malamud’s novel is the second chance it offers its hero, elevating him–and his story–into the realm of myth.

–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“A brilliant and unusually fine novel.” The New York Times

“A preposterously readable story about life.” Time

“Malamud [holds a] high and honored place among contemporary American writers.” Washington Post Book World

“The finest novel about baseball since Ring Lardner left the scene.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Series: FSG ClassicsPaperback: 231 pagesPublisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Reprint edition (July 7, 2003)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0374502005ISBN-13: 978-0374502003 Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Best Sellers Rank: #35,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #53 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Baseball #256 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Sports #452 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Fantasy
In his 1952 novel, Bernard Malamud comments on the role of the hero in the modern world. In order to do so, he parallels Roy, the baseball natural and protagonist, with Percival the Arthurian knight. Roy is on a quest to join the game of baseball at the beginning of the novel. His first failure comes when he answers Harriet Bird’s question wrong. When asked what he wants to become as a ballplayer, Roy can think of nothing more than personal gain. By inserting this in his book Malamud implies that many stars are in the game only for themselves. This refers to Percival asking the Fisher King the wrong question and being turned away. After a lapse of about fifteen years, Roy tries again to make it big in the pros. He joins a team called the New York Knights, an obvious relation to Arthurian legend, with the team coach Pop Fisher. Pop not only serves as a parent figure for Roy but he also resembles the Fisher King in the tale of Percival. Roy, who started out as a pitcher and is now a slugger, a reference to Babe Ruth, has made his own bat and dubbed it "Wonderboy". Roy’s hitting is unbelievable while using this bat and he quickly becomes the league slugger. Percival, much like Roy, created his own lance with which to do battle. As Roy continues to increase in popularity, he is confronted with a wish from a dying lad at a hospital. His father asks Roy to hit a home run for his son because that is the only way his son will survive. Roy accepts this challenge and does in fact knock one out of the park for the boy and in doing so saving him. This alludes to Babe Ruth hitting a home run for the same reason. Malamud inserts this into his novel to show that even though most ballplayers are playing for personal gain, some also try to give back to the supporters.
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