Nathanael West

Nathanael West, born Nathan Weinstein, was an American writer and screenwriter recognized for his two highly satirical novels, "Miss Lonelyhearts" and "The Day of the Locust." These works, set in the newspaper and Hollywood film industries respectively, are noted for their dark humor and critical examination of societal themes. West's early life involved academic challenges, including expulsion from Tufts College and admission to Brown University through unconventional means. During his time at Brown, he developed a distinct literary taste, favoring French surrealists and 19th-century poets over contemporary realist fiction, and showed an early interest in Christianity and mysticism as expressed through art and literature.

Despite financial struggles and sporadic work in construction and hotel management, West dedicated himself to writing. His literary output, though not commercially successful during his lifetime, gained significant recognition posthumously. West's writing often explored the disillusionment with the American Dream, portraying a rejection of political, religious, and romantic ideals. His unique style and thematic concerns, particularly the critique of societal decay and spiritual emptiness, have led to enduring critical acclaim and the coining of the term "West's disease" by W.H. Auden to describe a state of profound spiritual and economic poverty.

During his university years, Nathanael West diverged from the mainstream literary trends of his American contemporaries. He cultivated a strong interest in French surrealist writers and the poetry of the 1890s, particularly figures like Oscar Wilde. This inclination towards the unconventional extended to his thematic interests, where he explored Christianity and mysticism through the lens of literature and art. West's early writing endeavors, which began in college, eventually led to the publication of "The Dream Life of Balso Snell" in 1931. His time working night shifts in hotels provided him with the quiet hours needed to complete his first major novel, "Miss Lonelyhearts," published in 1933.

West's literary work is characterized by its profound disillusionment with the American Dream, which he depicted as having been corrupted both materially and spiritually. His novels offer a stark critique of societal values, often presenting a sweeping rejection of political engagement, religious solace, artistic redemption, and romantic love. This bleak outlook, combined with his distinctive, often jarring style, resonated with readers and critics more strongly after his death. The term "West's disease," coined by W.H. Auden, reflects the enduring impact of his exploration of poverty in both its spiritual and economic dimensions. While he attended socialist gatherings, his novels did not align with the political activism of his contemporaries, as he found overtly political themes difficult to integrate into his narrative style.