Proteus (1979) is a novel by Australian writer Morris West. It was originally published by Collins in England in 1979.[1]
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| Author | Morris West |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Collins |
Publication date | 1979 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 273 pp. |
| ISBN | 0002216744 |
| Preceded by | The Navigator |
| Followed by | The Clowns of God |
Synopsis
editThe novel's protagonist is John Spada, an Italian-American who leads a multinational corporation. He also secretly heads a covert organisation called Proteus, aiming to free prisoners of conscience around the world. To achieve this, Proteus threatens to release a deadly botulism culture into selected cities' water supply.
Critical reception
editJohn Philip in The Canberra Times thought that the "essence of a gripping yarn is there; but the story, as it unfolds, falters and finally fails." He concluded: "All in all, a disappointing novel. A great deal of action is developed around a topical theme; but finally Morris West loses touch with reality."[2]
In her literary study of West and his work, Maryanne Confoy noted: "In Proteus West was trying to discover whether the goodness of one human being could triumph over the evil of another. If the thoroughly evil person violated a thoroughly good person, could such a violation be overcome by goodness alone? Would the good person have to resort to evil in the effort to sustain live."[3]
Publication history
editAfter its original publication in 1979 in England by publishers Collins[4] the novel was later published as follows:
- William Morrow, USA, 1979[5]
- Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2017[1]
and many other paperback editions.[1]
The novel was translated into: Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian, Danish, Norwegian, German, French and Spanish in 1979; Finnish, Swedish and Japanese in 1980; Hebrew in 1982; and Slovenian in 1985 .[1]
Notes
edit- Dedication: For the Prisoners of Conscience of whom to our shame there are far too many.
- Epigraph: "It is becoming more and more obvious that it is not starvation, not microbes, not cancer, but man himself who is mankind's greatest danger because he has no adequate protection against psychic epidemics, which are infinitely more devasting in their effect than the greatest natural catastrophes." Modern Man in Search of a Soul, C. G. Jung
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Austlit — Proteus by Morris West (Collins) 1979". Austlit. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ ""Disappointing"". The Canberra Times, 19 May 1979, p12. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ Morris West: Literary Maverick by Maryanne Confoy, John Wiley & Sons, 2005, p159
- ^ "Proteus (Collins)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Proteus (William Morrow)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2023.