James salter, a west pointer who went to korea as a jet fighter pilot, has written a novel of that far eastern event that has none of the hokum that for the sake of. He attended west point, graduated in 1945, and served in the army air force as a fighter pilot. See all books authored by james salter, including a sport and a pastime, and light years, and more on. James low, next to him, was the model for the books. In todays piece, geoff dyer looks at salters first novel, the hunters. The writers authority breaths life into every sentence and the authenticity of his story is irrefutable.
E ight years ago, the writer james salter received a telephone call out of the blue from an admirer. The hunters another stop in my journey through james salters sparse output. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. In james salter commission after his first novel, the hunters, was published in 1957 under the pseudonym james salter. His first two novels, the hunters and the arm of flesh, are legendary in military. The hunters, by james salter chris becketts fiction. This is a book to be savoured, loved, read and reread. The hunters isbn 9781619020542 pdf epub james salter. This first edition by james salter is available at bauman rare books. James salter is one of americas greatest prose stylists. The novel was the basis for the 1958 film adaptation of the novel starring robert mitchum and robert wagner with a different storyline. Geoff dyer on james salters first novel, the hunters.
Salter was a previous air force pilot and officer, but even still i was surprised to find the hunters so genuine and free of unrealistic banter. James salter 1925 2015 was a novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. Under the pen name and later changed his name tojames salter, he published a novel, the hunters, about sabre pilots fighting in korea. Not much to show for 82 years, you might think, but salters words are so carefully chosen and polished such quality raw materials that each book carries more weight. For me the hunters is an excellent book which helps to understand why so many men in war expose themselves to extreme risk to do something heroic. I bought the book after reading an article on salter in the lrb by james meek, which observed that twentiethcentury american novelists tend to depict the military as victims, but that the hunters had more in common with the iliad or beowulf than with catch22. As good as his writing is, and as gripping the situations he describes, what earns this book 5 stars is the way salters images persist in the mind. He is best known as a novelist, but during the sixties and seventies, he worked in film making. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
It is based closely on his own experience as a pilot flying combat missions in korea. Click to read more about the hunters by james salter. Salter was already in his 30s when his first novel, the hunters 1956, was published. His book, the hunters was published in 1957, which became a movie in 1958. More than four decades after its publication, this newly revised edition of james salters the hunters speaks more eloquently to the universal pains of competition, longing, envy, and betrayal than it could have when the events of americas korean war were still fresh. His first novel, the hunters, about the korean war was turned into a 1958 film starring robert mitchum and robert wagner. But not many can deny that salter writes with a precision seldom seen in contemporary literature. Jul 08, 2015 bbc aired a taped interview of author james salter in memorial of his passing last month. Originally published in 1956, the hunters was james salter s first novel. Ive been keen on reading james salter for ages as hes always mentioned as one of the greatest us writers. It was published in 1956 and is the third salter novel i have read in the past thirteen months. Hunters first edition james salter bauman rare books.
Newly revised by the author, the story of cleve connells war flies straight into the heart of mens rivalries and fears. The book was not given its due share of attention and neither was the movie. He abandoned the military profession in 1957 after the publication of his first novel, the hunters. Reading james salters days in film james salter was a. The hunters book by james salter 5 available editions. Hes perfectly placed to write about life during wartime. He resigned his commission in 1957 in order to devote his energies to writing and screenwriting shortly after publication of the hunters 1956, a first novel based on his more than one. James salter revisits his second novel, the arm of flesh, making extensive changes and rewriting many portions entirely. The hunters 1957 was salters first novel and remains the most concise expression of his talents. Originally published in 1956, the hunters was james salters first novel. The hunters by james salter penguin random house canada. The hunters by james salter 1997, hardcover for sale. On this memorial day, elizabeth farnsworth talks with james salter, author of the hunters, a novel about fighter pilots in korea.
In this system, pilots are judged exclusively by the number of migs they destroy, with those rare pilots who kill five or more migs during their 100mission tours of duty called aces. This acclaimed book by james salter is available at in several formats for your ereader. In his offduty time, he wrote hist first novel, the hunters, publishing it in 1956 under the pen name james salter. But he began his writing career as james salter, and eventually, in the early 60s, took salter as his legal name, as did his wife and children. James salter quit fighting migs and left the air force to write the hunters, a novel set during the korean war. The hunters by james salter 2012, paperback for sale online. James salters new novel cassada tells a story of fate and courage in the squadron of american fighter pilots in cold war europe. James salter authored numerous books, including the novels all that is, solo faces, light years, a sport and a pastime, the arm of flesh revised as cassada, and the hunters. Salters prose, the contemporary writer most admired and envied by other writers. James salter s literature has been featured in the 2014 nsw higher school certificate.
I read hunters a year ago and am currently reading cassada, salters other flying novel. Not a masterpiece maybe, but a great piece of work by a master. James salter s the hunters is this months literature and war readalong title. James salters prose is tight, not a word wasted, often poetic and incandescent. Born james horowitz, he retired from the air force as maj. A novel first published in 1956, subsequently adapted into a 1958 movie of the same name starring robert mitchum. It is the story of nedra and viri, whose favored life is centered around dinners, ingenious games with their children, enviable friends, and nearperfect days passed skating on a frozen river or sunning on the beach. James salters first novel, and the only book of his that ive read, was originally published in 1956.
Dont save anything was his advice to other writers, his widow kay eldredge salter explains in the preface to this book. A war story based on his experience of more than 100 sorties as a jet fighter pilot in the korean war, it focused on the conflict between a squadron leader in search of his first kill and his reckless wingman. The hunters is james salters debut novel and a tale of usaf fighter pilots during the korean war, first published in 1956. James salter is very critical of his first published novel. James salters the hunters is this months literature and war readalong title. As it comes to its solution the result is a tight flying story with the elements of the service in sharp outline. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The hunters isbn 9781619020542 pdf epub james salter ebook. Quotations by james salter, american novelist, born june 10, 1925. The resulting work cassada combines the untamed vision of a young military pilot with the clarity and power of a masterful writer. Not a word is out of place, this is a tight book with a sense of place, especially once airbourne. Back in the days when hollywood was looking to emphasize its virility, they selected a west point novelist named james salter. From west point to hollywood, james salter could always recognize a hero james.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The hunters by james salter 1997, hardcover for sale online. In the hunters, james salter examines a corrupt system of promotion and achievement in a squadron of mighunting fighter pilots during the korean war. A novel by james salter and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. As good as his writing is, and as gripping the situations he describes, what earns this book 5 stars is the way salter s images persist in the mind.
The hunters has 5 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The hunters by james salter 2012, paperback for sale. The hunters captain cleve connell has already made a name for himself among pilots when he arrives in korea during the war there to fly the newly operational f86 fighters against the soviet migs. Savilles luck is out but pell, refusing to follow orders and endangering others, still downs the enemy. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. May 11, 20 e ight years ago, the writer james salter received a telephone call out of the blue from an admirer. His goal, like that of every fighter pilot, is to chalk up enough kills to become an ace.
Aug 21, 2012 james salters prose is tight, not a word wasted, often poetic and incandescent. The hunters by james salter overdrive rakuten overdrive. Salter, at left, in korea in 1952, with other members of the 335th fighter squadron, the inspiration for his first novel, the hunters. James salter books list of books by author james salter. Saville in korea as he watches the undependable lt. James salter audio books, best sellers, author bio. This exquisite, resonant novel by penfaulkner winner james salter is a brilliant portrait of a marriage by a contemporary american master. Based on his own experiences as a fighter pilot in the korean war, it is a classic of wartime fiction. I read hunters a year ago and am currently reading cassada, salter s other flying novel. Bbc aired a taped interview of author james salter in memorial of his passing last month. With his stirring, rapturous first noveloriginally published in 1956 james salter established himself as the most electrifying prose stylist since hemingway.
With his stirring, rapturous first noveloriginally published in 1956 james salter established himself as the most electrifying prose stylist since. Salter practiced the indulgence of writing with a kind of operational humility, even on topics like war and sex that other male writers of his generation could crow about ad nauseam. James salter was a pilot in the united states air force. One of the great postwar american writers, james salter has, at 87, spent his working life in the shadow of his peers. The hunters is a book about men in the 1950s in difficult situations and therefore might not appeal to women. The hunters is james salter s debut novel and a tale of usaf fighter pilots during the korean war, first published in 1956.
With his stirring, rapturous first noveloriginally published in 1956. Unfortunately, i picked it up just prior to moving, but if my time were mine it would have been read quite quickly. Salter grew up in new york city and was a career officer and air force pilot until his midthirties, when the success of his first novel the hunters, 1957 led to a fulltime writing career. James salter was bom in 1925 and raised in new york city. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the hunters.