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Novels of Samuel Beckett: Volume I

samuel beckett colm tóibín paul auster

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Edited by Paul Auster, this four–volume set of Beckett's canon has been designed by award-winner Laura Lindgren. Available individually, as well as in a boxed set, the four hardcover volumes have been specially bound with covers featuring images central to Beckett's works. Typographical errors that remained uncorrected in the various prior editions have now been corrected in consultation with Beckett scholars C. J. Ackerley and S. E. Gontarski.

Beckett was interested in consciousness as a form of comedy close to tragedy and logic as a crime. He loved the tension in 'cogito ergo sum' and took a dim view of the connecting word, the 'ergo' in the equation. Cogitating was the nightmare from which his characters were trying to awake. Being was a sour trick played on them by some force with whom they were trying desperately not to reckon. Beckett produced infinite amounts of comedy about the business of thinking as boring, invalid, and quite unnecessary. His characters did not need to think in order to be, or be in order to think. They knew they existed because of the odd habits and deep discomforts of their bodies. I itch therefore I am." — Colm Toibin, from his Introduction

496 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13,2006

This edition

Format
496 pages, Hardcover
Published
March 13, 2006 by Grove Press
ISBN
9780802118172
ASIN
0802118178
Language
English
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About the author

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samuel beckett

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Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet, who lived in France for most of his adult life. He wrote in both English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.

Beckett is widely regarded as among the most influential writers of the 20th century. Strongly influenced by James Joyce, he is considered one of the last modernists. As an inspiration to many later writers, he is also sometimes considered one of the first postmodernists. He is one of the key writers in what Martin Esslin called the "Theatre of the Absurd". His work became increasingly minimalist in his later career.

Beckett was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation". In 1984 he was elected Saoi of Aosdána.

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 7 votes)
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7 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
poemofdevil
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The interesting aspect of this collection lies in observing Beckett's writing prior to him finding his unique voice and deciding to give up writing about anything, which essentially means everything. Murphy, surprisingly, is a rather straightforward story for Beckett. The exploration of what constitutes a body and what is the mind is almost painfully obvious. Nevertheless, Murphy contains one of the most remarkable opening sentences in all of literature: "The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new." In Murphy, Beckett seems to be trying too hard to be witty for his own good.

Watt is the work where Beckett truly discovers himself in his prose. The ludicrous situations are constructed upon repetitions and echoes, with these repetitions never fully realized. Beckett simplifies his thoughts to the vulgarity of the immediate situation without grandstanding. Although Watt can be tedious in certain parts where the situations are weighed in their various permutations, and it can be taxing to read through at times, it arrives at the main crux that Watt presents: where does difference transform into a qualitative difference, rather than merely a quantitative one.

Camier and Mercier always struck me as a sort of B-side to Beckett's oeuvre. It never attains a sense of cohesion at any point and feels rather miscellaneous. Even his later, extremely abstract plays managed to make sense within their own limitations; however, this is not the case here. It seems that this might be the reason why Beckett left it unpublished until 1970.

Each of these works offers a unique glimpse into Beckett's evolving writing style and his exploration of various themes.
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Itch
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This was the very first time I had delved into Beckett's fiction, despite having a certain degree of familiarity with his stage and film works.

Anyway, it crossed my path during a period when I had been deeply immersed in reading about Modernism as an aesthetic movement. So, I found myself constantly ruminating on Murphy, Watt, and Mercier and Camier.

These works are not just standalone novels; they seem to be striving to convey something angry and political through their absurdity.

All three novels appear to be set in the same kind of mysterious Irish Night Town, similar to that of Ulysses or The Third Policeman, where associations become blurred and everyone seems marooned in a perpetual twilight.

Beckett's portrayal of the present is stagnant and unchanging, and his characters are mechanical and interchangeable.

In this collection, I believe I derived the most enjoyment from Watt, as it seemed to align with my personal tastes. However, your experience may differ.

I am particularly fond of the way this book highlights all the limitations of knowledge and the kind of mania that can arise from generating educated guesses to fill those gaps, which continuously fail to match the actual absurdity at play.

Each of Beckett's characters is, in some way, isolated from their own community and struggles to be seen or understood, yet what emerges is nothing but garbled nonsense.

Oh well.
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OngPQ
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Read Mercier & Camier.

To simply label it as a same-sex love story would be a reductionist view. However, it is indeed in part about that. This book is not just about the exploration of same-sex love; it is also filled with moments that are often hilarious.

The story takes readers on a journey that is both touching and entertaining. It delves into the complex emotions and relationships of the characters, while also providing light-hearted and comical scenes that will make you laugh out loud.

Mercier and Camier's relationship unfolds in a way that is both unique and relatable. Their interactions, misunderstandings, and growing bond add depth and charm to the story.

Overall, Mercier & Camier is a book that offers much more than just a same-sex love story. It is a captivating and enjoyable read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a deeper understanding of the power of love and friendship.
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Kyo843
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Samuel Beckett's works are notoriously difficult to read.

The intellectual vocabulary he employs is just the first obstacle that readers encounter.

His complex and often abstract ideas require careful consideration and analysis.

To fully understand his works, it is highly recommended that readers take notes while reading.

This allows for a more in-depth exploration of the text and helps to clarify any confusing passages.

Despite the challenges, I have a deep love for Beckett's literature.

It is a world away from the mainstream NY Times best sellers, offering a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the human condition.

His works force us to question our assumptions and look at the world in a new light.

For those willing to put in the effort, the rewards of reading Beckett are truly profound.
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Derenor
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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When I purchased the four-volume The Grove Centenary Editions of Samuel Beckett Boxed Set in 2007, I was immediately drawn to the second volume. I had already read all of Beckett's plays and The Complete Short Prose, 1929 - 1989, which was recommended to me by my unreciprocated college crush, Katherine E. Ellison. She also recommended the Trilogy of Molloy (1951), Malone Dies (1951), and The Unnamable (1953). I didn't know much about these early books, but upon glancing through, they seemed startlingly conventional compared to the later ones. However, the principal characters are mentioned near the end of The Unnamable, drawing all the books together (except How It Is, which came out in 1961).

Murphy is the most amusing of the three books. It tells the story of an eccentric and suicidal fellow in the 1930s trying to put together a respectable life. He wants to marry his lover, Celia Kelly, but her grandfather, Willoughby, is proud of her for supporting herself through prostitution. The book has a comic tone throughout, lightening up its overall dark story. It's a shame that the most recent issue of this book has a green cover, as lemon yellow is Murphy's favorite color.
Watt is the most difficult of the three novels. It is a literary breakthrough in dealing with the minutiae of everyday thought, but it often lapses into tedious lists of possibilities. The book is narrated in the first person minor by Sam, a servant who rescues Watt from a hole in a barbed wire fence. Watt himself is a milk drinker, often assumed to be a drunken derelict. The book begins and ends with Watt coming and going to the house via foot and train, and incidents at the station.
Mercier and Camier is probably the most accessible and Waiting for Godot - like of the three books. It focuses on two characters, Inspector Francis Xavier Camier and Mr. Mercier, and has numerous exchanges that make it easy to read. The book was written in 1946 and the characters were around at the turn of the century. The two have major encounters with the police at three points in the book, and the second encounter is extremely brutal and unprovoked. The use of vulgar language and the graphic description of dog fornication make me wonder if Beckett ever submitted it to Viking, which published his mentor, James Joyce.
All three books made me laugh out loud at intentional humor, while also reading as both profound and spare. They seem like great books to be read aloud, even if you wouldn't want kids around. While Beckett's most serious devotees generally find his novels superior to his theatrical work, they do have a definite theatricality to them due to his deliberate use of language. Reading Beckett is like reading few other novelists' work, and I believe his voice is quite different from Joyce's. I have now read all of Beckett's novels except Dream of Fair to Middling Women, which was published posthumously and not included in this collection.
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PabloGarciaCou
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Two years ago, on 22nd February 2012, I purchased a complete set of Samuel Beckett's works.

It consists of 4 substantial books that encompass all his novels, plays, poems, and literary criticisms. I immediately began reading it but got stuck numerous times.

It's not that his works aren't captivating; rather, their meanings are difficult to fathom, perhaps for someone like me who didn't graduate in literature in college.

Beckett's books have now become a distraction whenever I seek to be delighted by beautiful and intriguing prose, even without understanding the plot, theme, or message of the story.

Even though it took me nearly 2 years to finish this first volume, I truly savored every moment as I leafed through it.

Beckett is in a class of his own. While James Joyce influenced him, I would say that Beckett is more contemporary and thus more engaging.

Or maybe it's because I'm reading the corrected version in this centenary edition of Grove Press. I haven't sampled other editions of any of Beckett's works, so I really don't know.

All I can say is that the way he wrote here was like reading any other literary works of existing (still alive) writers. It's just that reading Beckett doesn't always lead to comprehension (for me).

There are three novels in this first book: "Murphy" (5 stars for me) is about an aging man who plays pacifist chess. His story is strange as in the middle of it, he flees from his betrothed, lives with a prostitute, and gets a job in a mental institution.

His wordplay here is truly a pleasure to read, even though I'm not good at playing chess. "Watt" (4 stars for me) is about a servant in an apartment and his relationship with his master and their tenants or other apartment dwellers (not entirely sure).

The wordplay here is rather exaggerated (translation: overdone) but still enjoyable, especially if you've had too much of Nicholas Sparks. This is where I got stuck many times; it was painful to be so frequently mesmerized that I couldn't leave some pages, and my bookmark just remained there each time I opened the book to read.

The last book here is a recent read, "Mercier and Camier" (3 stars for me), which I only understood when I googled the title of the book before writing my review.

One of my dear friends on Goodreads, Barbara (I used to call her B until I thought she was a different person because she changed her profile pic and now has a nice girly haircut), admired my honesty and said that perhaps Beckett didn't know what his message should be or something to that effect.

Thanks for the assurance, B. It's great to have a friend like you.

Now, onto the second volume. Beckett's famous trilogy: "Molloy", "Malone Dies", and "The Unnameable" awaits me. I can't wait; I will start reading tonight.

For the time being, it's off to work for me. Read Beckett, will you?
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jowb63
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A beautiful edition of one of the most thought-provoking authors of the last century has been released. This particular work is a must-have for all Samuel Beckett fans. Beckett's writing is renowned for its deep exploration of human nature, the human condition, and the meaning of life. His works often leave readers pondering long after they have finished reading. This new edition not only presents his masterpieces in a visually appealing format but also provides additional insights and commentary. It offers a unique opportunity for both new and seasoned readers to engage with Beckett's works on a deeper level. Whether you are a literature enthusiast or simply someone looking for a thought-provoking read, this beautiful edition is sure to captivate you.

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