ABOUT THIS BOOK

A fresh and approachable critical biography of the twentieth-century Anglo-American writer.

Christopher Isherwood wrote modernist novels before he evolved into a pioneer of autofiction; his novel Goodbye to Berlin inspired the hit musical Cabaret. Everything changed when Isherwood emigrated to America in 1939. His newfound pacifism and studies as a Hindu monk led to new kinds of novels, including A Single Man, that reflected his evolving spiritual interests and blazed a trail for the gay liberation movement. In this new biography, Jake Poller takes a holistic approach to Isherwood, exploring his life and writing as well as the impact of Vedanta philosophy on Isherwood’s work. This book offers a concise yet thorough account of a monumental figure.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Jake Poller teaches in the English department at Queen Mary University of London. His books include Aldous Huxley, also in Reaktion’s Critical Lives series.

REVIEWS

"This is the Christopher Isherwood biography we have been missing: informative, readable, and concise. Jake Poller covers both Isherwood’s “monumental life” and his considerable work without producing a doorstop. Poller understands and appreciates both the English and the American Isherwood. He provides enough analysis of the major works to inspire readers to go to (or go back to) the source, without overwhelming them or imposing his interpretation on the audience. Poller provides fresh insight without being dogmatic, offering alternate readings of events and works. This is a book Isherwood fans will learn from and enjoy reading."

— James J. Berg, editor of "Isherwood on Writing"

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Half-title Page

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Blank Page

Abbreviations

Introduction: Autofiction

1. The Poshocracy, 1904–25

2. Tea-Tabling, 1925–30

3. The Lost, 1931–7

4. Ivar Avenue, 1938–44

5. Samsara, 1945–53

6. Kitty and Dobbin, 1954–64

7. Life Writing, 1965–80

Epilogue

References

Select Bibliography

Acknowledgements

Photo Acknowledgements

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