Counterculture is a trend that denies generally accepted values in art. In literature, this direction was reflected in the work of some representatives of American literature of the seventies of the 20th century. One of these authors was Richard Brotigan. Peru of this writer owns eleven novels and several poetry collections. Creativity and biography of the American prose writer and poet is the topic of the article.
early years
Richard Brotigan was born in 1935. The writer's hometown is Tacoma. My father worked in a factory, during the Second World War he joined the ranks of volunteers. Mother worked as a waitress. The parents of the future writer divorced before his birth. Before leaving school, Richard Brotigan bore the name of his mother and only after receiving a certificate did he receive a name under which he entered literature in the sixties of the 20th century. The writer saw his father only twice in his life.
Richard's mother got married several times. In addition to the eldest son, the woman had two more children. The stepfathers, according to biographers, treated the future poet rather rudely. Children's impressions were reflected in the works created many years later, after Brotigan left his home. However, the prose writer in his youth was unlikely to understand what the phrase “native home” means. The family often moved. Mother barely made ends meet. Family members of Brotigan lived on welfare.
But, despite financial difficulties, Richard studied well. He became addicted to reading early, and by the age of fifteen he knew for sure that he would become a writer. The character of the future writer and in childhood was not simple. Over the years, the oddities of this creative person have worsened.
Brotigan’s biographers often cite an incident that happened to him in his youth. After reading poetry to his girlfriend, Richard (who was then twenty years old) expected to hear praise and enthusiastic exclamations. Nothing of the kind happened. The beloved young poet did not like the works. Then Brotigan went to the police station in order to surrender to the authorities. The police did not find reasons for the detention of the eccentric young man. However, they considered that being in a psychiatric hospital would not hurt him. As a result, Brotigan spent several weeks in a mental hospital.
The beginning of creativity
After leaving school, Richard spent some time in the family of his friend. Then the poem “Light” was written - one of the first published works. Richard Brotigan often returned to his friend's house. And, as a rule, he did this when his financial situation became especially critical.
Three years after graduation, Richard Brotigan married. But, like his father, he did not show a penchant for a quiet life. Immediately after the birth of his daughter, the poet left the family. Brotigan went to San Francisco. In this city, the budding poet plunged into the world of literary bohemia. He met with Michael McLure, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Spicer. Brotigan also took part in literary evenings, where he read his poetic works and short stories.
Prose works
After the publication of poems, the American author decided to try his hand at prose. One of the first works that he created in the early period of his work was “Catching Trout in America”. Richard Brotigan also wrote in the early sixties of the 20th century the story "Generals of the Conference from Big Sur."
The fame of the international level came to the American author precisely after the publication of “Trout Fishing in America” was published. According to critics of the time, Richard Brotigan is a prominent literary representative of the youth movement of the sixties of the 20th century. After creating a landmark work, the writer published four more works. One of the literary critics once said: "Only by perceiving a metaphor as a method, and not as an auxiliary tool, can we understand the prose that Richard Brotigan created."
“In watermelon sugar”
In this small novel, at first glance, there is no plot. Reviews for the work “In Watermelon Sugar” are various. Some admire. Others criticize, substantiating their negative opinion with a chaotic style of narration. In addition, the work is filled with riddles and questions, the answers to which the reader does not receive even after reading. There is no string or climax. The narration is in the first person. On behalf of a person in his own world. The hero sees everything that happens around, through a prism created from "watermelon sugar".
The novel can be called a literary experiment. Readers who prefer a strict syllable and a straightforward plot will hardly like this work.
Hippie novelist
Richard Brotigan is little known to Russian readers. His books are not clear to everyone. Contemporaries called the hero of this article a “hippie novelist,” which he extremely disliked. Brotigan believed that his prose was intended not only for representatives of the youth movement, which had formed in the subculture by the early seventies of the 20th century. A prose writer in an interview said: "In my books are answers to all questions of the twentieth century."
Criticism
Nevertheless, the star of Brotigan did not linger in the book sky. His books sold well. However, criticism spoke of Brotigan's work with neglect. One of the works in 1976 even received the "title" of the worst.
Like all talented authors, Brotigan was often haunted by failure. Often, he had to send works to publishers several times. Some poems and stories were published after the death of the author. Many years after the death of Brotigan, at one of the conferences dedicated to his work, one of the literary scholars uttered the phrase: "America could handle her poet better."
The thing is that his prose was forever associated with the hippie movement. A peculiar style, an abundance of characters, a lack of correspondence to classic literary plots - all this was necessary for readers seeking freedom. But it is alien to those who from the beginning of the eighties of the 20th century began to return to conservatism.
Decline in popularity
In the seventies of the last century, Brotigan experimented with style and genre. During these years, many works were created. Among them are the stories included in the collection "Luzhaykin's revenge."
The popularity of Brotigan in the eighties has subsided. The poet and writer was attacked by American critics. However, outside the homeland, the prose of Brotigan was famous. Perhaps the whole point is that the American writer has visited Japan more than once. During his trips, he got acquainted with the basics of the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, a reflection of which can be found in the work "Tokyo-Montana Express". Other books by Richard Brotigan:
- "Abortion. Historical novel".
- The Monster of the Hoclines.
- "The effect of sabrero."
- "Dreams of Babylon."
- "Unlucky Woman: A Journey."
Death
In 1984, Richard Brotigan died tragically. The poet shot himself in the head, presumably after a phone call from one of his former lovers. The body of the poet was discovered two weeks after his death. This fact testifies not only to oblivion in the literary world, but also, perhaps, to the loneliness that overtook the hero of this article in recent years.
Why did Richard Brotigan decide to end his life? Studies by biographers have led to various conclusions. Creative crisis, numerous publishers failures, angry reviews from critics, unsettled personal life. There are many reasons. One way or another, Richard Brotigan, whose poems went down in the history of world poetry, passed away suddenly, leaving behind many unsolved secrets. His prose is not widely accepted. But even three decades after the death of Richard Brotigan, his novels find their readers.