The Enormous Room

by E.E. Cummings
The Enormous Room cover
Good Books rating 3.62
Biography and Memoir
Technical
  • ID: 1474
  • Added: 2025-10-06
  • Updated: 2025-10-07
  • ISBN: 9783958646766
  • Publisher: Otbebookpublishing
  • Published: 2016-09-18
  • Reviews: 4

The Enormous Room is a semi-autobiographical novel by E.E. Cummings, recounting his four-month imprisonment in France during World War I. Cummings, an ambulance driver, was arrested alongside his friend William Slater Brown for expressing anti-war sentiments. The book captures the absurdity and camaraderie of prison life, introducing a cast of eccentric characters and reflecting Cummings' unique literary style. Written with Cummings' signature unconventional grammar and wit, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of life in captivity. It balances humor with introspection, providing a unique perspective on war's impact and the resilience of the human spirit. Cummings' lyrical prose and intellectual voice transform his experiences into a compelling narrative of survival and reflection.

Reviews
Anne Harrison · Anne Harrison · 2024-09-23
delightful 4.50

The reviewer finds the novel delightful and a welcome introduction to Cummings' prose, appreciating its unique style and perspective.

Anne Harrison shares her enthusiasm for 'The Enormous Room', describing it as a delightful find that broadened her understanding of E.E. Cummings' work beyond his poetry. She appreciates the novel's unique style and the author's ability to convey the flavor of the places and situations he encountered. Harrison finds the book to be a compelling and enjoyable read, offering a fresh perspective on the experiences of imprisonment and the human condition. Her positive review highlights the book's ability to engage and captivate readers, making it a memorable addition to Cummings' body of work.

Quick quotes

    This novel was for me a most delightful find.

    Until I found this work, my knowledge of e. e. cummings had been limited entirely to his

    Throughout, Cummings' writing is very expressive, and he gives a real feel for the flavour of the places which he visited and the situations

Los Angeles Review of Books · 2022-12-12
profound 4.50

The book is praised for its detailed portrayal of the prisoners and its allegorical depth. The narrative is compared to a darker, more humorous version of other classic works.

The reviewer highly praises 'The Enormous Room' for its empathetic and detailed portrayal of the prisoners, describing it as a superb allegory of the human condition. They compare the sections of the book to a droller, more humorous version of other classic works, highlighting the unique and engaging style of the narrative. The reviewer finds the book to be a profound exploration of the human experience, particularly in the context of war and imprisonment.

Quick quotes

    Much of the book is devoted to depicting the extraordinary inhabitants of the enormous room.

    A superb allegory of the human condition.

    Sections that read like a droller version of other classic works.

The Literary Sisters · 2014-01-07
disappointing 2.00

The book did not meet the reviewer's expectations and they prefer Cummings' poetry over his prose. They found the narrative style to be challenging and less engaging.

The reviewer expresses disappointment with 'The Enormous Room', stating that it did not live up to their expectations. They have a higher regard for Cummings' poetry and found his prose to be less captivating. The narrative style is described as challenging and somewhat difficult to follow, which detracted from their overall enjoyment of the book. Despite this, they acknowledge the book's unique qualities and the author's distinctive voice.

Quick quotes

    Sadly, The Enormous Room was not as good as I thought it would be.

    I far prefer Cummings' poetry to his prose.

    The narrative style is challenging and somewhat difficult to follow.

The Z-Axis · 2012-07-20
eclectic 3.50

The book is an eclectic mix of a war story and a personal account, blending humor and seriousness. The narrative is engaging but somewhat disjointed, reflecting the chaos of the protagonist's experiences.

The reviewer finds 'The Enormous Room' to be a fascinating blend of a war story and a personal memoir, set during World War I. They appreciate the humor and the vivid depiction of the protagonist's unjust imprisonment, which adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. However, they note that the book feels somewhat disjointed, with shifts in tone and style that can be jarring. Despite this, the reviewer finds the book compelling and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on war and authority.

Quick quotes

    THE ENORMOUS ROOM is an eclectic jumble of many things.

    It takes place over the three months of autumn, roughly, of 1917.

    The narrative is engaging but somewhat disjointed.

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