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Literary Fiction· United States

A Frolic of His Own

by William Gaddis
Aggregate Editorial Score73/100
★National Book Award
Published 1995512 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

When William Gaddis published A Frolic of His Own in 1995, it quickly found its place in the broader tradition of literary fiction. A sardonic meditation on the American legal system, told almost entirely in dialogue, follows a lawsuit by a man who claims his great-great-grandfather's story was stolen for a Hollywood film. Gaddis's second National Book Award winner is a brilliantly constructed legal satire and a profound meditation on art, theft, and justice. Themes of law, satire, art run through the work. The book has received recognition from National Book Award 1995.

Book Details

AuthorWilliam Gaddis
Published1995
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages512
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780684800516
Editorial Score73/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 1995, William Gaddis's A Frolic of His Own is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with law, satire, art, identity gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Among its recognitions: National Book Award 1995. With an editorial score of 73/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. Readers coming to A Frolic of His Own for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of law, satire, art, identity is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at. William Gaddis's role in the literature of United States is well established. A Frolic of His Own can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

National Book Award
winner · national
199555
✍️
About the Author
William Gaddis
United States
View Author →

William Gaddis is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of literary fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is A Frolic of His Own about?

A sardonic meditation on the American legal system, told almost entirely in dialogue, follows a lawsuit by a man who claims his great-great-grandfather's story was stolen for a Hollywood film. Gaddis's second National Book Award winner is a brilliantly constructed legal satire and a profound meditation on art, theft, and justice.

Who wrote A Frolic of His Own?

A Frolic of His Own was written by William Gaddis, from United States. First published in 1995.

What awards has A Frolic of His Own won?

A Frolic of His Own has received the following awards and honours: National Book Award 1995.

Is A Frolic of His Own worth reading?

A Frolic of His Own is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 55/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in law, satire, art.

Where can I buy A Frolic of His Own?

You can buy A Frolic of His Own on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is A Frolic of His Own?

A Frolic of His Own is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is A Frolic of His Own from?

A Frolic of His Own originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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