Steeplejack

By James Huneker

Book Overview

Steeplejack is a novel by James Huneker, first published in 1921. The story is set in New York City in the early 20th century and follows the life of the protagonist, Felix Fay, a young man who works as a steeplejack, climbing tall buildings and steeples to make repairs.Felix is a skilled and fearless worker, but he is also a dreamer and a poet at heart. He spends his free time writing poetry and dreaming of a better life, away from the dangerous and dirty work of a steeplejack.The novel explores themes of social class, race, and the struggle for self-improvement. Felix is a white man who works alongside African American steeplejacks, and the novel depicts the racial tensions and inequalities of the time.As Felix navigates the challenges of his job and his personal life, he becomes involved in a mystery surrounding the death of a wealthy businessman. He must use his skills as a steeplejack and his intelligence to uncover the truth and clear his own name.Steeplejack is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that offers a glimpse into the world of early 20th century New York City and the lives of the people who built and maintained its towering buildings.1920. Two volumes in one. The memoirs of Huneker, preeminent as an in-depth music critic, whose impressionistic, but incisive criticism in all fields of art made him one of the most influential of his day. The following excerpt from Steeplejack offers a brief overview of how Huneker summarized his life and the wonderful prose style in which he wrote it: It is the story of an unquiet soul who voyaged from city to city, country to country, in search of something, he knew not what. The gold grapes of desire were never plucked, the marvelous mirage of the Seven Arts never overtaken, the antique and beautiful porches of philosophy, the solemn temples of religion never penetrated. Life has been the Barmecide's feast to me-remember the Arabian nights-no sooner did I covet a rare dish than fate whisked it out of my reach. I love paintings and sculpture. I may only look, but never own either pictures or marbles. I would fain be a pianist, a composer of music. I am neither. Nor a poet. Nor a novelist, actor, playwright. I have written many things from architecture to zoology, without grasping their inner substance. I am Jack of the Seven Arts, master of none. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1417907266
• ISBN13: 9781417907267
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 708 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"