The Pump House Gang

Noted author Wolfe wrote this series of short stories in the mid 60s which describe a changing America, leaving the European framework of class structure and elegance for something different. Something that would evolve in our country even to today where people cared less about systems of status. It was a fascinating period which Wolfe identified and captured earlier that most social observers.

But, the stories are widely diverse from a group of surfers in La Jolla who have no desire to hold normal jobs, to Hugh Hefner’s “nose thumbing” to sexual society, to new work habits of young adults living in London. And this is some of the problems with the book. You may like some stories but they are so diverse, you may loathe others. I find myself revisiting Wolfe’s books as they provide expert commentary of the past 40 years. This one I found to be uneven but still enjoyable.

Having grown up in La Jolla the pump house gang story was interesting
……I knew some of those people but the other stories in the book about
degenerates? The history of American degeneracy? Who needs that?

Great book, one of the characters in the book Nelander is a personal friend of ours. He is the one who told us about the book.

Always liked his “collections” books…damn fine political satire reading.

Great collection. It is worth having just for the article on McLuhan.

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