Arcadio

by William Goyen

Overview

Completed while he was dying, William Goyen's Arcadio is one of the most affecting and imaginative farewells to life ever written. Arcadio, whose voice is inimitably Goyenesque, is a creature from beyond the normal walk of life. Half man, half woman, raised in a whorehouse and for years the veteran exhibitionist in an itinerant circus sideshow, he has escaped from the show and has been wandering in a quest for his lost family. Speaking intimately to the reader, he tells the bizarre and fantastic tale of his life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781941531129
Publisher:	Dzanc Books
Publication date:	10/10/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	178
File size:	549 KB

About the Author

Charles William Goyen (April 24, 1915 – August 30, 1983) was an American novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, editor, and teacher. Born in a small town in East Texas, these roots would influence his work for his entire life.

Editorial Reviews

This rather unusual novel tells the story of title character Arcadio, a runaway tent-show hermaphrodite searching for his/her family. LJ's reviewer found that "the novel's most compelling aspect is Arcadio's lyrical voice, combining knowledge of a corrupted world with a childlike faith" (LJ 11/15/83). For literary collections.

Library Journal

"William Goyen's new novel Arcadio ranks among his most powerful and original visionary works. It virtually pulses with life; it is both audacious and wise; a timeless fable that manages to be boldly contemporary as well." —Joyce Carol Oates



"[A] triumph of the imagination. . . . the overwhelming power of a myth brought to life." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher