SynopsisKurt Vonnegut was a POW held in Dresden in 1945 when the city was attacked by American bombers and virtually obliterated, leaving more than 130,000 people dead. He uses that event as the climax of this satirical and horrifying anti-war novel, in which a young man named Billy Pilgrim experiences much of what Vonnegut himself saw during the war. Unlike his creator however, Pilgrim has become, "unstuck in time" following his abduction by aliens thus affording him the opportunity to travel freely across time, visiting different periods in his life in an attempt to sort out his complicated history. SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE was a best-seller when it was first published in 1969, and brought Vonnegut to prominence as a major voice in American fiction.
| Details |
| Publication Date: | 1991-12-01 |
| Edition Description: | Reissue |
| Size |
| Length: | 215 pages |
| Height: | 7.3 in |
| Width: | 4.5 in |
| Thickness: | 0.8 in |
| Weight: | 4.0 oz |
Publisher's NoteLaunched in November, Dell's Kurt Vonnegut reissue program continues with one of the world's great anti-war books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we are afraid to know.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE is one of the worlds great anti-war books. Centering on the infamous fire-bombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we are afraid to know.
Industry Reviews"Serious critics have shown some reluctance to acknowledge that Vonnegut is among the best writers of his generation. He is, I suspect, both too funny and too intelligent for many, who confused muddled earnestness with profundity. Vonnegut is not confused. He sees all too clearly....Only Billy's time-warped perspective could do justice to the cosmic absurdity of his life, which is Vonnegut's life and our lives."New York Times Book Review - Robert Scholes (04/06/1969)"What I...applaud is the marvelous comic scenes with the British prisoners of war; the control in the war scenes; the understated bitterness with which he handles the American soldiers....When Vonnegut stops preaching and is funny, I take him very seriously."Washington Post Book World - Daniel Stern (04/13/1969) now.