Written directly after WWI, this novel reflected Huxley's unchanging and always detached world view -- expressed in his often bitter and cynical probing into what he took as the universal failure of humans to either comprehend themselves or others. This novel is primarily a series of character studies marked by philosophical digressions. In this, as his other works, the author takes a lofty moral stance, which is expressed in his critical portrayal of various characters (almost all drawn from the English upper class), with all being revealed in their various foibles and weakness -- from their hypocritical posturing to their simple vacuity. Brilliantly written, this cheerless work might be said to be "witty" but for this reader, its wit is too heavily tinctured with scorn.

Strachey's brilliant and delicate wit in puncturing the overblown images of the revered "celebrities" of the Victorian Era cannot be excelled. His reading of the distinctive, yet similar, personalities of Cardinal Manning, Florence Nightingale, General Gorden, and Thomas Arnold remains as a classic description of the personalities which defined their age. As the most uptight and upright Christians following the dictates of the Old Testament, they were still commanded by their own desires -- desires which remained unknown to them. Might well be read along with Samuel Butler's WAY OF ALL FLESH.

A bit dated, and not an easy read due to the employment of complex sentence structures and vocabulary. Well thought out, but more of a restrained defense and definition of "rationalism" than any engagement with any specific religious/political doctrines. Figures such as Wm. James and Bergson are briefly taken up.

The first edition was published in 1844, in German. The first English translation appeared in 1907. It has not been out of print since 1893 and has been translated into 8 languages. A classic work, the first to take on Karl Marx (and Marx hated it... see his GERMAN IDEOLOGY). A must read for all individualists. A new Dutch translation (the second) will appear in 2009.