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Ugly Rumours
207 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1975
About the author
Tobias Wolff
158 books1,123 followersTobias Jonathan Ansell Wolff is a writer of fiction and nonfiction.
He is best known for his short stories and his memoirs, although he has written two novels.
Wolff is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University, where he has taught classes in English and creative writing since 1997. He also served as the director of the Creative Writing Program at Stanford from 2000 to 2002.
He is best known for his short stories and his memoirs, although he has written two novels.
Wolff is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University, where he has taught classes in English and creative writing since 1997. He also served as the director of the Creative Writing Program at Stanford from 2000 to 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 24, 2009
Beware the u of rumour. Hints of what was to come. Makes for a good retrospective read. (British Library, the UK copyright library, has a copy)
March 3, 2019
Tobias Wolff has disowned this book. To say it is his "red headed step-child" is an understatement. I believe he wrote it while doing his graduate work in England. It's been a couple of years since I read it, so forgive the lack of detail. The story covers the experience of two Green Berets during their tour of Vietnam. For those familiar with Wolff, you will recognize many of the plot points from his memoirs In Pharoah's Army and, if I remember, The Barrack's Thief.
I can see why Wolff might not be as proud of this work as he should be of everything he wrote afterwards, but it is not a twisted, hideous failure. Had Wolff subsequently written nothing you would still have an okay novel from a first time novelist that was flawed but not terrible.
The greatest weakness for me was the shift in POV from character to character. Perspective often jumps in the middle of a chapter and it made me stumble a bit. Otherwise it is an adequate commentary on the Vietnam war and the soldiers' subsequent return to the United States.
For Wolff fans it is a wonderful opportunity to compare Wolff's memoirs with a fictional take on the same events. What details did he change? What theme's did he alter? What characters are combined or absent?
You see a great writer being born within its pages. It must be viewed within the landscape of every work that came afterwards to be appreciated.
At this stage, the greatest value of the book is as a collector's item. An object to own that transcends its content and literary contribution.
I can see why Wolff might not be as proud of this work as he should be of everything he wrote afterwards, but it is not a twisted, hideous failure. Had Wolff subsequently written nothing you would still have an okay novel from a first time novelist that was flawed but not terrible.
The greatest weakness for me was the shift in POV from character to character. Perspective often jumps in the middle of a chapter and it made me stumble a bit. Otherwise it is an adequate commentary on the Vietnam war and the soldiers' subsequent return to the United States.
For Wolff fans it is a wonderful opportunity to compare Wolff's memoirs with a fictional take on the same events. What details did he change? What theme's did he alter? What characters are combined or absent?
You see a great writer being born within its pages. It must be viewed within the landscape of every work that came afterwards to be appreciated.
At this stage, the greatest value of the book is as a collector's item. An object to own that transcends its content and literary contribution.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews