Colin Wilson's classic exploration of the rebel as genius; with a new introduction by Gary Lachman. When the upstart English writer Colin Wilson debuted on the literary scene with The Outsider in 1956; it marked one of the opening notes of the cultural revolution of the sixties. Wilson celebrated the misfit not as a figure be "fixed" and reintegrated into society; but as a lone journeyer who often had a stirring artistic; political; or spiritual innovation to convey to society. Wilson lived this book as much as wrote it. As an impoverished 23-year-old; the Englishman slept in a tent in a London park so that he could be free of material demands to dedicate himself fully to his study. When The Outsider appeared in 1956; it became a sensation among both critics and beats; who formed the vanguard of the dawning Aquarian Age. In Wilson's epic exploration of mystics; visionaries; literary pioneers; political troublemakers; and rule breakers of all sorts; he evoked a new kind of heroism; which changed how we view ourselves and our purpose in life. The Outsider is now reissued and reset in a beautiful Tarcher Cornerstone Edition; with a new introduction by Wilson's friend and biographer; Gary Lachman. This new volume coincides with Tarcher's publication of Lachman's biography of Wilson; Beyond the Robot.
#3126867 in Books 1978PDF # 3 #File Name: 0395262836336 pages
Review
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Useful insight from someone who made the transitionBy Ted DotyThe problem with being american (for those who were born american) is that we are so immersed in american-ism that we can no longer see what it is. Someone who is born elsewhere and consciously decides to become "american" has a unique perspective - one that is useful for the rest of us americans to read.Ted Morgan was born a noble french aristocrat; son of a Free French hero ("Ted Morgan" is an anagram of his french name; de Gramont). However; he found himself increasingly estranged from the closed world of the post-war french nobility; and increasingly drawn to the open culture of the United States. This book describes why; and how he came to make the break with his old life.As Morgan says in his book: "All americans are either revolutionaries; or descended from revolutionaries." While his turn of phrase makes enjoyable reading (Morgan won a Pulitzer prize for news reporting under deadline); his insights go deeper. This book acts in some way as a mirror held so we can contemplate our own reflection. Those of us who were born here can get some unique insight from this insider/outsider view.
