REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

by Richard Yates ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

It's hard to think that there's too much wrong with April and Frank Wheeler over and above what has been tagged the disenchantment syndrome of the average young married couple in the suburbs. An attractive pair (April is beautiful), with two children, a home in Connecticut, and friends nearby a little less limited than the rest of their neighbors,- still -- a lot has rubbed off since they first played house together in a Village apartment. But while Frank has been able to accept a dullish job with a big business in New York, April's Bovaryish boredom, her reproaches, her flare-ups and nights spent on the sofa, would indicate that she is more than just a chafed spirit. For April's discontent is a real emotional destitution, and this, to Yates' great credit, is only imperceptibly apparent. There is her irresponsible, unrealistic plan to get away from the ""hopeless emptiness of everything"" by going to Europe where they can find ""a world of intellect and sensibility"". Frank goes along with it, although he is offered a ""challenging"" new job- until April is pregnant again and threatens to abort herself. There is talk- of getting help, of starting again- as they were, but the moment of truth, April's hopeless alienation, comes only after the irreparable fact...... Yates, a new novelist (an O'Henry award earlier and an appearance in the Scribner annual) has an unerring eye and ear and ar so that his first novel, while maybe not important, is certainly aware and alive.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 9571349798

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown-A.M.P.

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1961

Categories: FICTION