A Confederate General from Big Sur

by Richard Brautigan

Book Overview

Lee Mellon believes he is the descendent of the only Confederate General to have come from Big Sur and is himself a seeker after truth in his own modern-day war against the status quo and the state of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039417271X
• ISBN13: 9780394172712
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: Evergreen
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Confederate General From Big Sur

An easy read, as is most of Richard Brautigan's work. If you haven't read Brautigan before, this one is a good place to start. His writing reminds me of Twain or of Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" and "Tortilla Flat." Travel to Big Sur with Brautigan in the late fifties, early sixties...I think you'll enjoy the trip.

Into the Rabbit Hole

Brautigan's excellent novel is definately worth the quick read, and then worth a second read to catch all his language play. Having grown up near Big Sur, this book was particularly funny as I believe Lee Mellon is still in residence there. Brautigan's description of drugs, drinks, frogs and the commas of Ecclesiastes are all done in a straight forward style that made me laugh out loud. One of my favorite paragraphs: "He broke the seal on the bottle, unscrewed the cap and poured a big slug of whiskey into his mouth. He swallowed it down with a hairy gulp. Strange, for as I said before: he was bald." A great read.

Frogs, Dynamite, and Prostitutes - Brautigan at his finest

If you read nothing else by Richard Brautigan, read "A Confederate General From Big Sur." Mere words are inadequate to properly describe this book, and the majesty contained within. Brautigan, master of the simile, is at his finest as he spins an off-beat tale containing (though not restricted to): frogs, dynamite, prostitutes, booze, and a man named Lee Mellon. Forsaking all possessions and the amenities of "civilized" life (a notion nearly inconceivable these days), Lee Mellon and the narrator, Jesse, embark upon an adventure in a place called Big Sur. An adventure not only in the physial sense, but in the metaphysical as well. Reading Brautigan in the context of our times, it is hard to imagine how the audience of the 1960's embraced his work. While his works may, to us, appear strange at times, we have grown accustomed to such eccentricities. But in the 60's it was fresh and new. One can only speculate if we have somehow missed out on some aspect of Brautigan by having read his books 30 years after they were written. But the mere fact that his work stands the test of time is a testament not only to his books, but to the man himself. But, alas, i stray from the topic of this missive. You want my review? It's a damn good book. Now go and read it.

Brautigan's poetic sweep of a unique personality

With "Trout Fishing in America" just a bit too bizarre for the publishers of the mid-sixties, this became the first book of Brautigan's to see publication. Certainly, it holds up well under scrutiny; it is far easier to understand than most of his "imaginative ramblings," but still contains that child-like sense which makes his books so refreshing. It is basically a portrait of a lost weekend with a friend in the woods. But not just ANY lost weekend. Sure, there are plenty odd events which occur, but I guarantee you that what will stay in your mind is the personal description of the central character, who's great-grandfather was (supposedly) the only confederate general from California. The only criticism, really, are a few slow spaces and a rather contrived ending. But the book is a perfect introduction to Brautigan, and feels still as close as a long lost friend