Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Bison Books (1993), Edition: Reprint, 272 pages
Description
The first two decades of the twentieth century were a time of promise and innocence in America. Hardworking immigrants could achieve the American dream; heroes were truly heroic. Eric Rolfe Greenberg brilliantly and authentically chronicles the real-life saga of the first national baseball hero, Christy Mathewson, and the fictional story of a Jewish immigrant family of jewelers. In these pages Mathewson and other great players like John McGraw, Honus Wagner, and Connie Mack discover the realities behind the shining illusions: the burdens of being a hero and the temptations that taint success.
User reviews
LibraryThing member NoLongerAtEase
On the cover of my copy of The Celebrant, W.P. Kinsella proclaims, in quotation, that the book is the greatest baseball novel of all time. Although I am not well versed enough in baseball literature to make such a sweeping claim, I can assure prospective readers that Mr. Kinsella's evaluation isn't
The Celebrant follows a young Jewish immigrant and his extended family through their dealings with Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants (the family runs a jewelry business that has produced World Series rings for the Giants) during the first two decades of the 20th century. The work is historical fiction in the mold of Ragtime; while the family at the center of the story is fictional almost all of the other characters are historical figures (mostly ballplayers).
Greenburg goes into great detail outlining many historic ball games, such as the Fred Merkele disaster of 1908 and parts of the infamous 1919 Sox-Reds World Series. The baseball writing is clear, fun, and historically adept, but, in the end, I think that baseball is just the background for Greenberg's ruminations on several of our national growing pains qua family and personal drama.
That is to say, even the reader that is not a baseball fanatic can perhaps still find much to enjoy in this novel.
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just bluster.The Celebrant follows a young Jewish immigrant and his extended family through their dealings with Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants (the family runs a jewelry business that has produced World Series rings for the Giants) during the first two decades of the 20th century. The work is historical fiction in the mold of Ragtime; while the family at the center of the story is fictional almost all of the other characters are historical figures (mostly ballplayers).
Greenburg goes into great detail outlining many historic ball games, such as the Fred Merkele disaster of 1908 and parts of the infamous 1919 Sox-Reds World Series. The baseball writing is clear, fun, and historically adept, but, in the end, I think that baseball is just the background for Greenberg's ruminations on several of our national growing pains qua family and personal drama.
That is to say, even the reader that is not a baseball fanatic can perhaps still find much to enjoy in this novel.
Show Less
LibraryThing member franoscar
Might contain spoilers
I ended up disappointed in this book. I think because the main character just didn't quite make sense to me. And I didn't like the end, which of course might be based in truth & maybe it is the truth I don't like (about Mathewson.) By the end the ball game descriptions seemed
I ended up disappointed in this book. I think because the main character just didn't quite make sense to me. And I didn't like the end, which of course might be based in truth & maybe it is the truth I don't like (about Mathewson.) By the end the ball game descriptions seemed
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to go on too long, and it felt like he left the complexity of people's lives out. Show Less
LibraryThing member phaas
Probably my favorite work of baseball fiction. Superbly written.
LibraryThing member SethAndrew
A fantastic combination of historical fact with interesting fiction. Greenberg weaves the truth from the early years of MLB with a great story of a Jewish family of jewelers. The two main characters, brothers Eli and Jackie Kapanski, are present for most of the greatest baseball moments from the
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first to decades of the Major Leagues. The author's knowledge and love of baseball shines through in his writing. Baseball fan or not, this story of immigrants trying to make it in early 20th century America can be enjoyed by anyone. An absolutely terrific book. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
CASEY Award (Winner — 1983)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1983
Physical description
272 p.; 5.98 inches
ISBN
0803270372 / 9780803270374