20th Century Short Reign Of Pippin Iv: Amazon.ca: John Steinbeck: Books

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9 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
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3.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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2.0 out of 5 stars Probably his most disappointing work, Mar 22 2004

By	Kenneth Scheffler (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

I have all but two of the books that Steinbeck published. The Short Reign of Pippin IV is by far my least favorite. There is, in my opinion, a decided stylistic shift in Steinbeck's writing following the war, and his books became increasingly bourgeois. This book is the pinnacle of this shift. I had a very difficult time reading this book, and actually had to put it aside at one point out of disappointment and frustration.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe a minor Steinbeck, but still a very good book, Feb 5 2003

By	Corsini Lorenzo "lcorsini" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Do not be misled by the fact that Steinbeck have written better books, this is indeed a good one.
It is extremely well written and you will go through it fully enjoying the story and the characters. While this book is only a satire, Steinbeck does a very good job in studying the nature of man when politics, power and government are concerned. Even if the author attitude may seem different from his first novels, and while he may seem more cynical and resigned, he is still a very keen observer of a world that has drastically changed from the one he used to describe.
The only (minor) flaw of this book is that sometimes Steinbeck try to go back to his typical epic and evocative style, which seems a bit out of place in a satire such this.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A light satire on french politics, Oct 15 2002

By	S. Vohra "coolsaru" (Longmont, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Steinbeck very well handles the 'complicated' topic of the french politics. I liked the way, he makes us laugh at the french history with references to Louis 14 with Versailles or Louis 16 ... the comparison between the american way of thinking and the french one...
He doesnt 'attack' any of them directly, and that s what I call a good satire ...

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise
Someone once said "I cannot read more than ten pages of Steinbeck without throwing up." It is a feeling that I share wholeheartedly. Read more

Published on Jun 12 2003 by Jason L. Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars An American Novel in the French Making
I must state that one of the main reasons I laid my hands on this "fabrication" was that I wanted to see how John Steinbeck handled satire and humor, which are far cries from the... Read more

Published on Sep 23 2002 by novelnut

5.0 out of 5 stars Yummy
An unexpected and undervalued delight. Hilarious satire in Steinbeck's beautifully economic prose. A very far cry from his grittier American work (Cannery Row is my favourite... Read more

Published on Nov 23 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars When political payback time comes
Great book for presentation to candidates for political office. Some 80 political parties agree to re-establish/elect monarchy for single-issue, self-centered,political reason... Read more

Published on Jul 14 1999