A satirical epic of the colonization of maryland based on the life of an actual poet, ebenezer cooke, who wrote a poem of the same title. The sotweed factor takes its title from the poem the sotweed factor, or a voyage to maryland, a satyr 1708 by the englishborn poet ebenezer cooke c. The time is late seventeenth century, the reign of william and mary. The sotweed factor is the beginning of barths interest in weaving together the real with the fictional, and so is the start of his engagement with the postmodern genre. Complete summary of john barths the sotweed factor. The sotweed factor by john barth the 556th greatest. However, it wavers and meanders to the point that, by the 34 point, it loses much of its spark. The sot weed factor is a very unusual novel, and it took me some time to finish it. A sotweed factor, was a tobacco agent or supercargo. Mar 18, 2017 john barths third book, the sotweed factor, is an epic in nearly every sense of the word including the poetic. The book is a bareknuckled satire of humanity at large and the grandiose costume romance, done with meticulous skill in imitation of such eighteenthcentury picaresque novelists as fielding, smollett and sterne. In which is describd the laws, government, courts and constitutions of the country, and also.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 756 pages and is available in paperback format. Set in the late 1600s, it recounts the widely chaotic odyssey of hapless, ungainly ebenezer cooke, sent to the new world to look after his fathers tobacco business and to record the struggles of the maryland colony. The laws, government, courts and constitutions of the country, and also the buildings, feasts, frolicks, entertainments and drunken humours of the inhabitants of that part of america. Dense, funny, endlessly inventive and, ok, yes, longwinded this satire of the 18thcentury picaresque novelthink fieldings tom jones or sternes tristram shandy is also an earnest picture of the pitfalls awaiting innocence as it makes its unsteady way in the world. The sotweed factor is a very unusual novel, and it took me some time to finish it. A sot weed factor, was a tobacco agent or supercargo. Whereas his earlier fiction considered these questions in a contemporary context, barths third novel introduces an existential perspective into lateseventeenthcentury colonial america. Considered by critics to be barths most distinguished masterpiece, the sot weed factor has acquired the status of a modern classic. Though sometimes serious, it is frequently no, most of the time hilarious, tongue in cheek, bawdy. Free download or read online the sotweed factor pdf epub book. The project gutenberg ebook of the sotweed factor, by ebenezer. It rarely rambles or dithers, and there is always something happening.
Set in the late 1600s, it recounts the widely chaotic odyssey of hapless, ungainly ebenezer cooke, sent to the new world to look after his fathers tobacco business and to record the struggles of the maryland colony in an epic poem. Click to read more about the sotweed factor by john barth. John barths third book, the sotweed factor, is an epic in nearly every sense of the word including the poetic. The sotweed factor was what northrop frye called an anatomya large, loosely structured work, with digressions, distractions, stories within stories, and lists such as a.
However, it wavers and meanders to the point that, by the. His initial difficulty is that his tutor teaches him to make a game of learning so that later he can find no reason to choose between philosophies, careers or simple actions during the thirty years to follow. As barth is wont to do, the sotweed factor is not only the title of this book, but it is also the title of a poem in the book which is penned by the lead character, who is himself a sotweed factor sot weed being a slang term. Critics lev grossman and richard lacayo pick the 100 best englishlanguage novels published since 1923the beginning of time. I also learned that the novel sprang from an actual satirical poem of the same title published in 1706 by an actual man named ebenezer cooke. You can also read the full text online using our ereader. From the foreword i learned that the sotweed factor was originally published in the summer of 1960, when barth was just 30, exactly 50 years before i finally came to it. The sot weed factor returns to barths earlier exploration of the existentialist notions of action, choice, and value. I already knew barth was a formidable and unique writer, since id read and loved lost in the funhouse a long time ago. The sotweed factor paperback tattered cover book store. An incredibly complex plot and some 1100 pages take him to the new world to manage his. I already knew barth was a formidable and unique writer, since id read and loved lost in.
The sot weed factor is an eighteenthcentury satirical poem written in hudibrastic couplets about an englishman who travels to the new american colonies to make his fortune trading in sot weed tobacco only to be shocked by the vulgar behaviors of both the colonists and natives, and flees back to his native land after being robbed blind. John barth books biography and list of works author of. Introduction its a good thing to be shifty in a new country. The sotweed factor goodreads meet your next favorite book. Pdf the sotweed factor book by john barth free download. The sotweed factor has acquired the status of a modern classic.
The sotweed factor returns to barths earlier exploration of the existentialist notions of action, choice, and value. Published march 1st 2005 by atlantic books uk first published 1960. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more. On colfax avenue 2526 east colfax avenue, denver, co 80206 3033227727 colfax avenue book store. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The sotweed factor 1 the poem stands as one of our earliest examples of debunking and disillusionment2, in the most exact sense of that word. Some of the chiefest pleasures in a lifetime of reading fiction are those moments when you stumble upon a gem of a book you somehow.
It is written in the linguistic style of the eighteenth century, an historical, satirical novel, a parody of the 18thcentury picaresque novel. The sot weed factor is a 1960 novel by john barth that satirizes picaresque novels such as tristram shandy and tom jones. In which is describd the laws, government, courts and constitutions of the country, and also the buildings, feasts, frolicks, entertainments and drunken humours of the inhabitants of that part of america. The sotweed factor is a 1960 novel by john barth that satirizes picaresque novels such as tristram shandy and tom jones. Set in the late 1600s, it recounts the wildly chaotic odyssey of hapless, ungainly ebenezer cooke, sent to the new world to look after his fathers tobacco business and to record the struggles of the maryland colony in an epic poem. To most of us he is the protagonist of a contemporary novel, the sot weed factor, by john barth. The sot weed factor ebook by john barth rakuten kobo. Free audio book that you can download in mp3, ipod and itunes format for your portable audio player. The sotweed factor 2005 read online free book by john.
John barths 1960 masterpiece, the sot weed factor, keeps. Boisterous, hilarious, satirical, epic frolic set in seventeenth century london and colonial marylanda goodreads buddy described this book as a rollicking tale. In which is describd the laws, government, courts and constitutions of. It tells the story of an english poet named ebenezer cooke who is given the title poet laureate of maryland by charles calvert. Ebenezer cooke, an innocent like candide, was born in maryland but raised in 17th century england. This page contains details about the fiction book the sotweed factor by john barth published in 1960. Buy a cheap copy of the sotweed factor book by john barth. The sotweed factor by john barth discussion i just finished this book, first off, for anyone who hasnt read it i couldnt recommend it enough. The sotweed factor was a literary quantum leap, an 800page mock epic of the colonization of maryland based on an actual poet, ebenezer cook, who wrote a poem of that name. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are.
For various reasons, one of them being the need to lure and recruit settlers to populate exploitable territories, a spate of bonanza or comeon literature appeared, promotional tracts. The sotweed factor is a 1960 novel by the american writer john barth. The sotweed factor by telling him that, like all of barths books, this one is both. As barth is wont to do, the sotweed factor is not only the title of this book, but it is also the title of a poem in the book which is penned by the lead character, who is himself a sotweed factor sot weed being a slang term for tobacco, and a factor being an agent. Some adventures of captain simon suggs, johnson hooper 1845 we do not know a great deal about ebenezer cook. The sotweed factor, picaresque novel by john barth, originally published in 1960 and revised in 1967. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The project gutenberg ebook of the sotweed factor, by. Jul, 2010 from the foreword i learned that the sot weed factor was originally published in the summer of 1960, when barth was just 30, exactly 50 years before i finally came to it. Its essentially a satirical epic which probably doesnt accurately express the character of the book, but ive seen it aptly described as a rollicking good tale. Read the sot weed factor by john barth available from rakuten kobo.
The sotweed factor is what northrop frye called an anatomy a large, loosely structured work, with digressions, distractions, stories within stories, and lists. The sotweed factor 1960, by john barth alltime 100. The sotweed factor is an eighteenthcentury satirical poem written in hudibrastic couplets about an englishman who travels to the new american colonies to make his fortune trading in sotweed tobacco only to be shocked by the vulgar behaviors of both the colonists and natives, and flees back to his native land after being robbed blind. A parody of the historical novel, it is based on and takes its title from a satirical poem published in 1708 by ebenezer cooke, who is the protagonist of barths work. The sot weed factor was what northrop frye called an anatomya large, loosely structured work, with digressions, distractions, stories within stories, and lists such as a.
The novel marks the beginning of barths literary postmodernism. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining, funny, and witty read. The first edition of the novel was published in 1960, and was written by john barth. John barth, quote from the sotweed factor the difference here twixt simple and witty folk, if the truth be known, is that your plain man cares much for what stand ye take and not a fart for why ye take it, while your smart wight leaves ye whateer stand ye will, sobeit ye defend it cleverly. The sotweed factor american literature barth, john on. Considered by critics to be barths most distinguished masterpiece, the sotweed factor has acquired the status of a modern classic. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Complete summary of john barths the sot weed factor. The sotweed factor by john barth and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A factor is a middleman who buys something to resell it. The sotweed factor by john barth the novel is set in the 1680s and 90s in london and on the eastern shore of the colony of maryland.
Its the late 17th century and ebenezer cooke is a poet, dutiful son and determined virgin who travels. The sot weed factor was a literary quantum leap, an 800page mock epic of the colonization of maryland based on an actual poet, ebenezer cook, who wrote a poem of that name. The book is a rich, bawdy, bellylaugh of a book which has an incredible pace for a book this size. To most of us he is the protagonist of a contemporary novel, the sotweed factor, by john barth. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. While i think that this statement is horribly reductive and does the great and beautiful and moving novel a huge disservice, one can still understand where he was coming from. The sotweed factor is a 760 page historical novel written by the national book award winning author john barth and first published in 1960. This modern classic is a hilarious tribute to all the most insidious human vices, with a hero who is one of the. From the appearance in 1956 of the floating opera, his first published book. The sot weed factor 1 the poem stands as one of our earliest examples of debunking and disillusionment2, in the most exact sense of that word.