This is my first book of the year and must say what an apocalyptic experience! The book
‘The Class’ by Eric Segal is not a romantic tale unlike his bestseller ‘Love Story’ nor is it the one discussing societal issue of the rich and the poor class as the name might suggest; its about the Harvard CLASS of 1958.
‘The Class’ is a powerful and moving saga of five extraordinary members of Class’58. Its about their journey of twenty five years which culminates with their alma-mater 25th REUNION at which they confront each other and the balance sheet of their lives. Daniel Rossi, Jason Gilbert, Theodore Lambros, Andrew Eliot and George Keller are the heroes of this story. Each guy from a different background and each had a different story to foretell but what stands in common is Harvard-the symbol of who they are and who they will be. If you are not the son of Harvard this is what one gets to hear-
‘There must be……some possible background in reason for one’s boiling over with joy that one is a son of Harvard, and was not by some unspeakably horrible accident of birth, predestined to graduate at Yale or Cornell’.
Its about the revelation of life that unfolds with the college years.
‘We took the world as given. Cigarettes
‘The Class’ by Eric Segal is not a romantic tale unlike his bestseller ‘Love Story’ nor is it the one discussing societal issue of the rich and the poor class as the name might suggest; its about the Harvard CLASS of 1958.
‘The Class’ is a powerful and moving saga of five extraordinary members of Class’58. Its about their journey of twenty five years which culminates with their alma-mater 25th REUNION at which they confront each other and the balance sheet of their lives. Daniel Rossi, Jason Gilbert, Theodore Lambros, Andrew Eliot and George Keller are the heroes of this story. Each guy from a different background and each had a different story to foretell but what stands in common is Harvard-the symbol of who they are and who they will be. If you are not the son of Harvard this is what one gets to hear-
‘There must be……some possible background in reason for one’s boiling over with joy that one is a son of Harvard, and was not by some unspeakably horrible accident of birth, predestined to graduate at Yale or Cornell’.
Its about the revelation of life that unfolds with the college years.
‘We took the world as given. Cigarettes
Were twenty several cents a pack, and gas
As much per gallon. Sex came wrapped in rubber
And veiled in supernatural scruples-call
Them chivalry
Psychology was in the mind; abstract
Things grabbed us where we lived; the my life
Worth living was the private life and- least
Worth scandal in this characterization-
We did not know we were a generation’
Each protagonist had something to share with its readers in terms of the realties of life. Eric Segal has portrayed in a remarkable way what it is like to be a ‘Harvardian’. He writes that the guys out there have such uncanny confidence, self assurance emanated from these dignitaries like a halo- whether they were discussing metaphysics or the merits of a new instructor’s wife. The guys have the ability to love themselves and treasure their own intellects. There are some fillers as to the lingo used in the college; the secret word that is the key to making good at Harvard: bullshit. With tongue-in-cheek remarks as to greater the opportunity for tossing the verbiage like so much salad(unimpeded by the need for such trivia as facts) the more likely the course would be a snap. To let the cat out of the bag , tell you the Harvard guys may not be that great at essay writing they have a secret recipe for it. Pad paragraphs with useful phrases such as ‘From a theoretical point of view’ or ‘upon first inspection we may seem to discern a certain attitude which may well survive even closer scrutiny’. The entry of the freshmen was animatedly described as ‘They glanced at one another like tigers taking measure of a menancing new rival. But in this kind of jungle you could never be sure where the real danger lurked’.
The author dynamically puts the fact that everybody pays a price for his success. Though you may learn a lot of things from such paradise symbolic places but ‘How to be happy’ that’s one thing that even Harvard can’t teach you. You may have a talent for success maybe and maybe no talent for friendship , such cold selfish nature can cripple you in the years to come.
Definitely a first class entertainment for all those seeking success (who doesn’t!) and that too from pride places like Harvard (could be IIMs here)
Leave with this quintessential message of the Odyssey
‘ The imperfections of the human state are outweighed by the glory of human love…..’
Them chivalry
Psychology was in the mind; abstract
Things grabbed us where we lived; the my life
Worth living was the private life and- least
Worth scandal in this characterization-
We did not know we were a generation’
Each protagonist had something to share with its readers in terms of the realties of life. Eric Segal has portrayed in a remarkable way what it is like to be a ‘Harvardian’. He writes that the guys out there have such uncanny confidence, self assurance emanated from these dignitaries like a halo- whether they were discussing metaphysics or the merits of a new instructor’s wife. The guys have the ability to love themselves and treasure their own intellects. There are some fillers as to the lingo used in the college; the secret word that is the key to making good at Harvard: bullshit. With tongue-in-cheek remarks as to greater the opportunity for tossing the verbiage like so much salad(unimpeded by the need for such trivia as facts) the more likely the course would be a snap. To let the cat out of the bag , tell you the Harvard guys may not be that great at essay writing they have a secret recipe for it. Pad paragraphs with useful phrases such as ‘From a theoretical point of view’ or ‘upon first inspection we may seem to discern a certain attitude which may well survive even closer scrutiny’. The entry of the freshmen was animatedly described as ‘They glanced at one another like tigers taking measure of a menancing new rival. But in this kind of jungle you could never be sure where the real danger lurked’.
The author dynamically puts the fact that everybody pays a price for his success. Though you may learn a lot of things from such paradise symbolic places but ‘How to be happy’ that’s one thing that even Harvard can’t teach you. You may have a talent for success maybe and maybe no talent for friendship , such cold selfish nature can cripple you in the years to come.
Definitely a first class entertainment for all those seeking success (who doesn’t!) and that too from pride places like Harvard (could be IIMs here)
Leave with this quintessential message of the Odyssey
‘ The imperfections of the human state are outweighed by the glory of human love…..’
