A Fan's Notes
Encyclopedia
A Fan's Notes is a novel by Frederick Exley
, first published in 1968. Subtitled "A Fictional Memoir" and categorized as fiction, the book is somewhat autobiographical. In a brief "Note to the reader" in the opening pages Exley asserts
This may give one a sense of Exley's sense of humor, but for all intents and purposes, the book is a confession. Since its publication the book has been reprinted several times (most recently in 1997 as a Modern Library
edition), been heralded as a modern classic, and achieved a considerable cult following
.
A Fan's Notes was briefly featured in the documentary film Stone Reader as an example of a brilliant debut novel
.
, insulin shock therapy
and electroconvulsive therapy
, and the black hole of sports fandom. Its central preoccupation with a failure to measure up to the American dream
has earned the novel comparisons to Fitzgerald
's The Great Gatsby
. Beginning with his childhood in Watertown, New York, growing up under a sports-obsessed father and following his college years at the USC
, where he first came to know of his hero Frank Gifford
, Exley recounts years of intermittent stints at psychiatric institutions, his failed marriage to a woman named Patience, successive unfulfilling jobs teaching English literature to high school students, and working for a Manhattan
public relations firm under contract to a weapons company, and, by way of Gifford
, his obsession with the New York Giants
.
Exley's introspective "fictional memoir", a tragicomic indictment of 1950s American
culture, examines in lucid prose themes of celebrity, masculinity, self-absorption, and addiction, morbidly charting his failures in life against the electrifying successes of his football hero and former classmate. The title comes from Exley's fear that he is doomed to be a spectator in life as well as in sports.
and starring Jerry Orbach
as Exley.
Frederick Exley
Frederick E. "Fred" Exley, was an American novelist best known as the author of A Fan's Notes.-Biography:Early yearsFred Exley was born March 28, 1929, in Watertown, New York...
, first published in 1968. Subtitled "A Fictional Memoir" and categorized as fiction, the book is somewhat autobiographical. In a brief "Note to the reader" in the opening pages Exley asserts
This may give one a sense of Exley's sense of humor, but for all intents and purposes, the book is a confession. Since its publication the book has been reprinted several times (most recently in 1997 as a Modern Library
Modern Library
The Modern Library is a publishing company. Founded in 1917 by Albert Boni and Horace Liveright as an imprint of their publishing company Boni & Liveright, it was purchased in 1925 by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer...
edition), been heralded as a modern classic, and achieved a considerable cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
.
A Fan's Notes was briefly featured in the documentary film Stone Reader as an example of a brilliant debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
.
Synopsis
A Fan's Notes is a sardonic account of mental illness, alcoholismAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, insulin shock therapy
Insulin shock therapy
Insulin shock therapy or insulin coma therapy was a form of psychiatric treatment in which patients were repeatedly injected with large doses of insulin in order to produce daily comas over several weeks...
and electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy , formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Its mode of action is unknown...
, and the black hole of sports fandom. Its central preoccupation with a failure to measure up to the American dream
American Dream
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each...
has earned the novel comparisons to Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
's The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is a novel by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. First published in1925, it is set on Long Island's North Shore and in New York City from spring to autumn of 1922....
. Beginning with his childhood in Watertown, New York, growing up under a sports-obsessed father and following his college years at the USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, where he first came to know of his hero Frank Gifford
Frank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
, Exley recounts years of intermittent stints at psychiatric institutions, his failed marriage to a woman named Patience, successive unfulfilling jobs teaching English literature to high school students, and working for a Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
public relations firm under contract to a weapons company, and, by way of Gifford
Frank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
, his obsession with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Exley's introspective "fictional memoir", a tragicomic indictment of 1950s American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
culture, examines in lucid prose themes of celebrity, masculinity, self-absorption, and addiction, morbidly charting his failures in life against the electrifying successes of his football hero and former classmate. The title comes from Exley's fear that he is doomed to be a spectator in life as well as in sports.
Film adaptation
A Fan's Notes was made into a film in 1972 directed by Eric TillEric Till
Eric Till is a British film and television director working in Canada, the United States, and Europe since the 1960s.-Career:...
and starring Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach
Jerome Bernard "Jerry" Orbach was an American actor and singer. He was well known for his starring role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and as the voice of Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As well, Orbach was a noted musical theatre star...
as Exley.
External links
- The New York Times Book Review, October 6, 1968
- Walter Kirn "Sad Sack Superman" Slate Magazine, August 20, 1997