BOOK BRIEF

Ship of Fools

Katherine Anne Porter
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Ship of Fools

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1984

Book Brief

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Katherine Anne Porter

Ship of Fools

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1984
Book Details
Pages

512

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Aboard A Ship • 1930s

Publication Year

1984

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter is a novel set on a German passenger ship in 1931. Travelers from diverse backgrounds embark on a voyage from Mexico to Germany, revealing personal prejudices and societal tensions through their interactions. The narrative explores themes of morality, human folly, and the complexities of social dynamics.

Mysterious

Melancholic

Unnerving

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.8

3,545 ratings

62%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Katherine Anne Porter's Ship of Fools is renowned for its rich prose and vivid character exploration. Critics praise its intricate depiction of pre-WWII societal tensions aboard a ship. However, some find the narrative's pace sluggish and the multitude of characters overwhelming. Overall, the novel remains a compelling study of human nature amidst impending chaos.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ship of Fools?

Readers who relish intricate character exploration and themes of moral ambiguity, similar to those in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, would appreciate Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter. The novel captures human folly aboard a ship, with a microcosmic society rich in detail.

3.8

3,545 ratings

62%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

512

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Aboard A Ship • 1930s

Publication Year

1984

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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