The Genius & the Goddess by Aldous Huxley

Sometime ago, this book was given to me by a good friend.  He is a gentleman with a passion for books and a knack for knowing which ones I like.  OK, I am fairly predictable in that sense but the fact that he pays attention to those things is a testament to his character and value as a friend.

I have recently finished reading Crome Yellow and found it tough.  I had trouble paying attention, even for the short length.  If you haven’t read the book, it is a roaring 20’s satire of aristocrats, artists, harlots, and phonies all drinking and waxing philosophical at so & so benefactor’s country estate.  Critically, it was very well received, I believe, but I just couldn’t really get into it.  For example, The main character is named Denis Stone.  His personality is a perfect match.  I disliked all the characters…maybe that was the point, but I digress. 

So, opening The Genius & the Goddess, I wasn’t quite sure which Huxley I was going to get - the 20’s satirist, the 30’s academic, or the 50’s aesthete.  Well, I was happy to see it was a concise and easy read - more Brave New World than Crome Yellow.  Sure, there are layers to peel away in this book, but the narrative sprints along to its conclusion, almost too quickly, it would seem.

The conflicts are set out early with the young John Rivers and his acceptance into the quirky Maartens Family home.  We see the strains of devotion, love and lust.  The academic Huxley seems to stay out of his own way and lets the story tumble along.  I thought I wouldn’t be reading too much Huxley in the near future, but after finishing this book, all the other unread Huxley’s on the shelf are chirping a little louder.  Thanks Case.