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Book Review: Appointment In Samarra (1934)

[ 9 / 10 ] With my last couple forays into the "Modern Library Top 100 Novels of All Time" ending in disappointment, I was yearning to find something truly great on the list. Against all expectations, I found what I was looking for in Appointment in Samarra. Named for a short story by W. Somerset Maugham in which a man has an inevitable date with death, the novel is aptly named in retelling the tragic tale of socialite Julian English. Julian and his wife Caroline are the pride of the 1930's social circuit in the small, fictional city of Gibbsville, Pennsylvania. Life seems to be nothing more than parties, drinks, and enjoyment. But when Julian makes one bad decision, he sets off a string of events that irreparably change his life for the worse. This is a relatively short and lightning-fast read, mainly because of the skill demonstrated in John O'Hara's writing. Interestingly enough, not too much really happens in the story - despite Julian's fall from grace, I would argue that the story is not that complicated or eventful. But despite that, it is an extremely engrossing read, and is a delight from start to finish. In my opinion, that is the triumph of a great writer; given a simple story, he can make it marvellous without mucking it up. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, the best way I can describe Appointment in Samarra is to say that it is everything The Great Gatsby wishes to be...

O'Hara's story does not solely focus on Gibbsville's wealthy and famous - it does well to provide a cross-section of small-town life. Portions of the story are devoted to exposees on everyday workers, troubled kids, and even mafiosas. However, the focus is mostly on the Englishes and their friends. Julian is not your typical wealthy snob; though he does not want for money, he has a down-to-earth personality, and as such is very likable. His relationship with his wife is healthy and poignant, described touchingly in one of the several sections in which O'Hara steps away from the developing plotline in order to provide backstory. These interludes are excellently done; they always seem to occur at the perfect time, never disrupting the pace, and always providing crucial tidbits of character development.

There are several striking things about the story. Obviously, Julian's fall itself is so tough to swallow simply because he is such a sympathetic protagonist. Despite some bad decisions, and a tendency to drink too much, he's an easy character to like and identify with, making his eventual end that much more dramatic. Perhaps more importantly however is the fact that it comes about due to such minutae. The tale is so tragic because the crucial decisions and actions which lead to the conclusion seem so minor at the time. Despite this, the story seems so realistic; it is no stretch of the imagination to understand how several misunderstandings, lapses in judgment, and cross words can cause a man's life to spiral out of control. It makes life seem so fragile that you can't help but hope that a similar series of coincidental circumstances doesn't befall yourself or one of your loved ones.

And above all, I cannot stress enough how well the story is written. There is no fancy prose, no innovative writing techniques, no complicated flashbacks or linear tricks; it is simply the work of a good writer telling a tale that could have occurred in Anytown, USA. It is interesting both as a period piece and an examination of the fragile foundations on which many people build beautiful facades. If you're one of those people who always wondered what all the fuss was about with The Great Gatsby, I urge you to give this book a read and compare.

As a treat to any diligent readers out there, I'm including Maugham's short story "Appointment in Samarra", because it's a great little piece:

A merchant in Baghdad sent his servant to the market.
The servant returned, trembling and frightened. The
servant told the merchant, "I was jostled in the market,
turned around, and saw Death.

"Death made a threatening gesture, and I fled in terror.
May I please borrow your horse? I can leave Baghdad
and ride to Samarra, where Death will not find me."

The master lent his horse to the servant, who rode away,
to Samarra.

Later the merchant went to the market, and saw Death in
the crowd. "Why did you threaten my servant?" He asked.

Death replied,"I did not threaten your servant. It was
merely that I was surprised to see him here in Baghdad,
for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."