Saul Bellow: Novels 1956-1964: Seize the Day, Henderson the Rain King, Herzog

Saul Bellow's novels are considered to be some of the most significant achievements in postwar American literature due to their passionate, insightful, and often humorous nature. The Library of America's collection of his work, Novels 1956–1964, begins with the novella Seize the Day. The story follows the failed actor and salesman Tommy Wilhelm over the course of a single day, delving into his desperate predicament. The austere psychological portrayal in Seize the Day is followed by Henderson the Rain King, which tells the ebullient tale of Eugene Henderson and his primal mantra of “I want! I want!” This book is an affecting parable of one man's quest for self-discovery and morality.

The titular character of Bellow's best-selling 1964 novel, Moses Herzog, is on the verge of a mental breakdown after his wife leaves him for his best friend. He copes by engaging in a furious letter-writing campaign to channel his rage. Herzog's story marked a new phase in Bellow's career, as he gained both literary acclaim and a mass audience in America.

The Library of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving America's literary heritage. Their series includes over 300 volumes of authoritative editions, each averaging 1,000 pages in length, with cloth covers, sewn bindings, ribbon markers, and printed on premium acid-free paper designed to last for centuries.

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