Dieser amerikanische Romanautor und Kritiker war eine Schlüsselfigur der Literaturszene der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Seine Romane, oft satirisch und inspiriert von seinen eigenen Erfahrungen im Bohème-Leben in New York und Paris, untersuchten eindringlich die damalige Gesellschaftskultur. In seiner kontroversen, aber mitfühlenden Fiktion widmete er sich auch der damals neu entstehenden afroamerikanischen Kultur in Harlem. Neben seinem Schreiben war er auch ein einflussreicher literarischer Mäzen, der die Künste unterstützte und Werke afroamerikanischer Künstler sammelte.
"Nigger Heaven" (1926) sorgte für einen Skandal und wurde zum meist diskutierten Roman seiner Zeit. Im Fokus stehen eine Bibliothekarin und ein Möchtegern-Schriftsteller, die zwischen Ambitionen, Rassismus und der afroamerikanischen Kultur Harlems gefangen sind. Van Vechten schildert das Leben in Harlems Clubs und die Lebensfreude der schwarzen Intellektuellen.
Carl van Vechtens Roman "Parties" ist das Memento Mori der "Roaring Twenties", das den Kater nach den Exzessen und den Verfall des Festes thematisiert. Die Protagonisten taumeln durch ein trunkenes New York, während die Party längst vorbei ist. Exklusive Illustrationen von Maurice Vellekoop bereichern die Ausgabe.
Set in early 20th-century Greenwich Village, the novel follows Everett, a young artist grappling with poverty while pursuing his passion for art. His interactions with a diverse group of bohemian neighbors and wealthy patrons shape his journey, particularly his complicated romance with fellow artist Lucy, which is strained by social class differences. Themes of identity, ambition, and the essence of success permeate the narrative, offering a rich depiction of the vibrant artistic community and its challenges. Van Vechten's evocative prose captures the essence of this era.
The friendship between Langston Hughes and Carl Van Vechten highlights a unique collaboration during the Harlem Renaissance. While Hughes is renowned for his impactful poetry and novels, Van Vechten's role as a supportive white critic and photographer significantly contributed to the visibility of black artists. This relationship reveals a deeper narrative of artistic camaraderie and mutual influence in a time of cultural transformation.
Firecrackers: A Realistic Novel (1925) is a novel by Carl Van Vechten. Published in the same year as F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Anita Loos' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Van Vechten's novel has been recognized as an important document of the Jazz Age, a decade of bohemian excess and artistic experimentation that changed the shape of American and European culture. "You must think of a group of people in terms of a packet of firecrackers. You ignite the first cracker and the flash fires the fuse of the second, and so on, until, after a series of crackling detonations, the whole bunch has exploded, and nothing survives but a few torn and scattered bits of paper, blackened with powder." In Van Vechten's novel, an explosive group of friends welcomes a handsome young man into their midst. Gunnar O'Grady, an athlete and a jack of all trades, soon becomes an object of obsession for men and women alike. As he tries to satisfy their needs and desires while working to support himself, he begins to question the meaning of friendship itself. Firecrackers: A Realistic Novel, Van Vechten's fourth novel, is a fascinating work of fiction from a man who was always one step ahead of the rest. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Carl Van Vechten's Firecrackers: A Realistic Novel is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.
Featuring thirteen classic tales, this collection explores the whimsical and mysterious secret lives of cats through the works of renowned authors like Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe. Curated by Carl Van Vechten, the stories delve into feline adventures and insights, highlighting the unique bond between humans and their feline companions. Each narrative offers a blend of humor, intrigue, and charm, making it a delightful read for cat lovers and literary enthusiasts alike.
The book offers an in-depth exploration of cats, delving into their history, behaviors, and cultural significance. It examines their connections to various forms of art and literature, including folklore, music, painting, poetry, and law. Celebrated as the definitive work on the subject, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the feline experience and its impact on human culture.
Set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, the narrative follows Gunnar O'Grady, a charismatic athlete who becomes the center of attention for a vibrant group of friends. As he navigates their desires and expectations, he grapples with the true meaning of friendship. The novel captures the essence of a transformative era marked by artistic experimentation and bohemian excess, making it a significant work in American literature. This edition presents Van Vechten's exploration of human relationships and societal dynamics in a modern format.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
Opening on a scene of tawdry sensationalism, this novel shifts decisively to a world of black middle-class respectability, defined by intellectual values, professional ambition, and an acute consciousness of class and racial identity.