Ugly Rumours (novel)

Ugly Rumours was the first novel by American writer Tobias Wolff. It was published only in Britain, in 1975, and has never been reprinted. The book does not appear in Wolff's list of publications included in recent books—the London Review of Books commented on this omission, stating that "to read (Ugly Rumours) is to understand why (it was omitted from the list of publications)"[1]—and when his novel Old School was published in 2004, all publicity copy referred to it as his first novel.

First (and only) edition cover
(publ. Allen & Unwin)
AuthorTobias Wolff
SubjectVietnam War
GenreWar novel
Publication date
1975
Pages207 pages
ISBN0048231177
OCLC1342091

In 2003, Wolff described Rumours as "terrible", saying that it was "the best (he) could do at the time, but it really wasn't very good", and that it now "embarrasses" him.[2]

In 2011, Wolff stated that he has "no feeling for the book now, no interest in it, and no interest in attracting attention to it by talking about it."[3]

Plot summary

During the Vietnam War, two Special Forces soldiers attempt to avoid combat duty.

References
  1. Stifled Truth, from the London Review of Books, by Wyatt Mason; originally published Vol. 26 No. 3 · 5 February 2004 (pages 19-20); retrieved July 22, 2011
  2. Like his literary brother, Tobias Wolff has reshaped the world of American fiction -- and not just for the 'Old School' crowd (page 3 of 4), from the San Francisco Chronicle, by Heidi Benson; first published November 24, 2003; retrieved July 22, 2011
  3. Tobias Wolff And The First Novels That Writers Wish Were Forgotten at The Awl; by Elon Green; published July 21, 2011; retrieved July 22, 2011


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