Particularize Containing Books Pictures from an Institution

Title	:	Pictures from an Institution
Author	:	Randall Jarrell
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	First Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 286 pages
Published	:	April 15th 1986 by University Of Chicago Press (first published 1954)
Categories	:	Fiction. Humor. Novels. Academic. Academia. Literary Fiction. Comedy

Pictures from an Institution Paperback | Pages: 286 pages

Description Supposing Books Pictures from an Institution

Beneath the unassuming surface of a progressive women’s college lurks a world of intellectual pride and pomposity awaiting devastation by the pens of two brilliant and appalling wits. Randall Jarrell’s classic novel was originally published to overwhelming critical acclaim in 1954, forging a new standard for campus satire—and instantly yielding comparisons to Dorothy Parker’s razor-sharp barbs. Like his fictional nemesis, Jarrell cuts through the earnest conversations at Benton College—mischievously, but with mischief nowhere more wicked than when crusading against the vitriolic heroine herself.

Present Books During Pictures from an Institution

Original Title:	Pictures from an Institution
ISBN:	0226393747 (ISBN13: 9780226393742)
Edition Language:	English
Characters:	Gertrude Johnson, Dwight Robbins, Gottfried Rosenbaum, Constance Morgan, Pamela Robbins, Derek Robbins, Flo Whittaker, Jerrold Whittaker, Camille Batterson, Irene Rosenbaum, Unnamed Narrator (Pictures from an Institution)
Setting:	United States of America
Literary Awards:	National Book Award Finalist for Fiction (1955)

Rating Containing Books Pictures from an Institution

Ratings: 3.59 From 418 Users | 69 Reviews

Critique Containing Books Pictures from an Institution

I enjoyed this as it gave me a portrait of small college America as seen in the mid 20th century, which is what I hoped for. I did find it difficult to like the characters, and I felt it was definitely a portrait as seen by an observer, although it is written from the point of view of a participant. Possibly this feeling reflects the feeling of lack of real community or depth of relationship apart from between a very few people in the book. Interesting and at points amusing.

Pictures from an Institution by Randall Jarrell is a comic book of fiction that isn't really a novel, although it doesn't have to be--it's exactly what it calls itself, an interconnected series of portraits painted on the canvas of a small women's liberal arts college in the 50s (presumably Sarah Lawrence).Going nowhere while loosely following the academic year, Pictures (let's call it that) is brilliantly written and draws on Jarrell's exceptional erudition, notably referencing German



If I understood more of this book, Id probably give it a higher rating. Most of the literary references were obscure and dated (to me). I gave up trying to read it with close to full comprehension within a few pages. The style a literary Jack Kerouac Stream of consciousness.

halfway through, this book abandons itself and spends the rest of its pages just sort of dancing around. the story that was being set up (that of the satirical novelist come to the campus to write a book about it) goes off over the hills and leaves us with 150 more pages of delightful characters and witticisms... it was kind of a disappointment... when i started this book it was one of those HOLY SHIT! moments where you think you are finally finding A Perfect Book... this is oscar wilde /

I didnt finish this book; I just couldnt bring myself to read any more of it after about 20-25% in. Basically the narrator is always and seemingly only interested in making catty comments. Some of these are genuinely funny and witty, but it quickly gets very tiresome; salt makes food taste better, but when too much is used the dish becomes inedible. As this book did for me. I was hoping it would be a good followup to Kingsley Amis Lucky Jim. If youre looking for an academic satire from the

A smug self-involved novel written for the wine-quaffing elite so they might titter around their canapés at the bons mot expressed about a footnote in the revised Oxford edition of The Iliad. The narrator is a pompous New York scenester and the novel reminiscent of all those moments when youre watching a Woody Allen film and its going all right, then suddenly you have this overwhelming urge to kill all the privileged neurotic whining nuisances gobbling up all the caviar before you. Maybe its a