OPPENHEIMER: The Story of a Friendship

by Haakon Chevalier ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 23, 1965

Haakon Chevalier based his novel The Man Who Would Be God on Oppenheimer. He now writes of his relationship with the renowned scientist in a semi-memoir, semi-investigation. Chevalier first met Oppenheimer in 1937 through Andre Malraux; for many years he counted him his closest friend. He recalls here the ""time of innocence"" when Oppenheimer projected ""an exceptional, almost agonized concern with the fate of man"" which led him to close connection with leftist groups and when the friends could drink ""to the confusion of our enemies."" In 1941 Oppenheimer decided to participate in atomic bomb research; in 1943, Chevalier was approached by George Eltenton to approach Oppenheimer on the matter of collaboration, a conversation he reported to Oppenheimer. This is the basis for the ""Chevalier incident."" Chevalier was first summoned for questioning by the FBI in 1945; it took him years to discover that his accuser was none other than Oppenheimer. A sizable portion of his book becomes the recording and interpretation of the testimony that pilloried him, false testimony. Chevalier reconstructs the possible reason why Oppenheimer cooperated so disastrously and its equally disastrous results. Chevalier's own testimony here is shadowed by a certain evasiveness (his conversation with Oppenheimer is capable of various interpretations) and shaped by a certain need for justification. While his approach is plausible, it is not entirely convincing: the overlay of bitterness over personal betrayal in public places cannot be dismissed. An important, controversial personal record.

Pub Date: Aug. 23, 1965

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Braziller

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1965

Categories: NONFICTION