He resigned his commission in 1957 in order to devote his energies to writing and screenwriting shortly after publication of the hunters 1956, a first novel based on his more than one. Originally published in 1956, the hunters was james salters first novel. A novel first published in 1956, subsequently adapted into a 1958 movie of the same name starring robert mitchum. Salter grew up in new york city and was a career officer and air force pilot until his midthirties, when the success of his first novel the hunters, 1957 led to a fulltime writing career. The hunters by james salter 1997, hardcover for sale online. James salters new novel cassada tells a story of fate and courage in the squadron of american fighter pilots in cold war europe. James salter is one of americas greatest prose stylists. From west point to hollywood, james salter could always recognize a hero james. A novel by james salter and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. See all books authored by james salter, including a sport and a pastime, and light years, and more on. As it comes to its solution the result is a tight flying story with the elements of the service in sharp outline.
The hunters by james salter overdrive rakuten overdrive. Unfortunately, i picked it up just prior to moving, but if my time were mine it would have been read quite quickly. Newly revised by the author, the story of cleve connells war flies straight into the heart of mens rivalries and fears. James salters the hunters is this months literature and war readalong title. Dont save anything was his advice to other writers, his widow kay eldredge salter explains in the preface to this book. James salter revisits his second novel, the arm of flesh, making extensive changes and rewriting many portions entirely. The hunters another stop in my journey through james salters sparse output. It is the story of nedra and viri, whose favored life is centered around dinners, ingenious games with their children, enviable friends, and nearperfect days passed skating on a frozen river or sunning on the beach. James salter, a west pointer who went to korea as a jet fighter pilot, has written a novel of that far eastern event that has none of the hokum that for the sake of. The hunters is a book about men in the 1950s in difficult situations and therefore might not appeal to women.
His book, the hunters was published in 1957, which became a movie in 1958. Horowitz, salter himself was a fighter pilot with the rank of captain who saw combat from february to august 1952. He kept a detailed diary of his tour and the novel closely follows a chronology of events he exp. James salter audio books, best sellers, author bio. The book was not given its due share of attention and neither was the movie. This acclaimed book by james salter is available at in several formats for your ereader. A war story based on his experience of more than 100 sorties as a jet fighter pilot in the korean war, it focused on the conflict between a squadron leader in search of his first kill and his reckless wingman.
In james salter commission after his first novel, the hunters, was published in 1957 under the pseudonym james salter. May 11, 20 e ight years ago, the writer james salter received a telephone call out of the blue from an admirer. Salters prose, the contemporary writer most admired and envied by other writers. On this memorial day, elizabeth farnsworth talks with james salter, author of the hunters, a novel about fighter pilots in korea. Back in the days when hollywood was looking to emphasize its virility, they selected a west point novelist named james salter. James salter s literature has been featured in the 2014 nsw higher school certificate. This first edition by james salter is available at bauman rare books. James salters first novel, and the only book of his that ive read, was originally published in 1956.
James salter books list of books by author james salter. Not much to show for 82 years, you might think, but salters words are so carefully chosen and polished such quality raw materials that each book carries more weight. Salter practiced the indulgence of writing with a kind of operational humility, even on topics like war and sex that other male writers of his generation could crow about ad nauseam. The writers authority breaths life into every sentence and the authenticity of his story is irrefutable. May 28, 2001 on this memorial day, elizabeth farnsworth talks with james salter, author of the hunters, a novel about fighter pilots in korea. Bbc aired a taped interview of author james salter in memorial of his passing last month. Hes perfectly placed to write about life during wartime. The resulting work cassada combines the untamed vision of a young military pilot with the clarity and power of a masterful writer.
It is based closely on his own experience as a pilot flying combat missions in korea. It was published in 1956 and is the third salter novel i have read in the past thirteen months. James salter s prose is tight, not a word wasted, often poetic and incandescent. With his stirring, rapturous first noveloriginally published in 1956 james salter established himself as the most electrifying prose stylist since hemingway. James salter s the hunters is this months literature and war readalong title. Ive been keen on reading james salter for ages as hes always mentioned as one of the greatest us writers. Jul 08, 2015 bbc aired a taped interview of author james salter in memorial of his passing last month. This exquisite, resonant novel by penfaulkner winner james salter is a brilliant portrait of a marriage by a contemporary american master. The hunters is james salters debut novel and a tale of usaf fighter pilots during the korean war, first published in 1956. Salter was already in his 30s when his first novel, the hunters 1956, was published. The hunters, by james salter chris becketts fiction. In todays piece, geoff dyer looks at salters first novel, the hunters.
The novel was the basis for the 1958 film adaptation of the novel starring robert mitchum and robert wagner with a different storyline. James salter 1925 2015 was a novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. The film rights to the novel allowed salter to leave active duty with the us air force in 1957 to write fulltime. Born james horowitz, he retired from the air force as maj. Originally published in 1956, the hunters was james salter s first novel. The hunters isbn 9781619020542 pdf epub james salter. This is a book to be savoured, loved, read and reread. He attended west point, graduated in 1945, and served in the army air force as a fighter pilot. In his offduty time, he wrote hist first novel, the hunters, publishing it in 1956 under the pen name james salter. The hunters has 5 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The hunters is james salter s debut novel and a tale of usaf fighter pilots during the korean war, first published in 1956. The hunters by james salter 1997, hardcover for sale. Based on his own experiences as a fighter pilot in the korean war, it is a classic of wartime fiction.
The hunters by james salter 2012, paperback for sale online. The hunters by james salter 2012, paperback for sale. James salter quit fighting migs and left the air force to write the hunters, a novel set during the korean war. But he began his writing career as james salter, and eventually, in the early 60s, took salter as his legal name, as did his wife and children.
James salter authored numerous books, including the novels all that is, solo faces, light years, a sport and a pastime, the arm of flesh revised as cassada, and the hunters. To learn more about salter, read his 1993 art of fiction interview or one of his. More than four decades after its publication, this newly revised edition of james salters the hunters speaks more eloquently to the universal pains of competition, longing, envy, and betrayal than it could have when the events of americas korean war were still fresh. The hunters by james salter penguin random house canada. His first two novels, the hunters and the arm of flesh, are legendary in military. But not many can deny that salter writes with a precision seldom seen in contemporary literature. Geoff dyer on james salters first novel, the hunters. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Salter, at left, in korea in 1952, with other members of the 335th fighter squadron, the inspiration for his first novel, the hunters. Salter was a previous air force pilot and officer, but even still i was surprised to find the hunters so genuine and free of unrealistic banter. The hunters captain cleve connell has already made a name for himself among pilots when he arrives in korea during the war there to fly the newly operational f86 fighters against the soviet migs. Hunters first edition james salter bauman rare books. I bought the book after reading an article on salter in the lrb by james meek, which observed that twentiethcentury american novelists tend to depict the military as victims, but that the hunters had more in common with the iliad or beowulf than with catch22. His goal, like that of every fighter pilot, is to chalk up enough kills to become an ace.
Savilles luck is out but pell, refusing to follow orders and endangering others, still downs the enemy. Its the first novel about the korean war that were reading in the read along. James salters prose is tight, not a word wasted, often poetic and incandescent. Not a word is out of place, this is a tight book with a sense of place, especially once airbourne. The hunters book by james salter 5 available editions. Quotations by james salter, american novelist, born june 10, 1925. The hunters isbn 9781619020542 pdf epub james salter ebook. E ight years ago, the writer james salter received a telephone call out of the blue from an admirer. With his stirring, rapturous first noveloriginally published in 1956 james salter established himself as the most electrifying prose stylist since. Aug 21, 2012 james salters prose is tight, not a word wasted, often poetic and incandescent. The hunters 1957 was salters first novel and remains the most concise expression of his talents. Click to read more about the hunters by james salter. His first novel, the hunters, about the korean war was turned into a 1958 film starring robert mitchum and robert wagner. Saville in korea as he watches the undependable lt.