JR by William Gaddis
The novel is a satirical critique of capitalism, narrating the story of an 11-year-old boy who builds a vast financial empire from his school's payphone. Using the adults around him as pawns, he manipulates the system to his own advantage, turning junk bonds into high profits. The narrative unfolds almost entirely through dialogue, making it a challenging but rewarding read. The book is a commentary on the American dream, exploring themes of greed, exploitation, and the dehumanizing effects of capitalism.
The 1259th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1975
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 726
- Words
- 265,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 17th on 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction (Larry McCaffery)
- 20th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- 59th on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
- National Book Award - Fiction (National Book Foundation)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)