BOOKS IN 1971

Fiction 1971

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

One of the most popular horror novels of all time about a real exorcism that took place in New York in 1949. The movie later eclipsed the success of the book.

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

Acclaimed spy thriller about a fictional 1963 assassination attempt on French President Charles De Gaulle. Noted for its realistic historic flavor, its suspense, the plot and the relentless bad guy.
Rabbit Redux by John Updike

From the critically acclaimed “Rabbit Series” which contain four books, each released 10 years after the one before beginning with Rabbit Run in 1960. Updike is a master in capturing the culture of the time. In this the second novel we find high school basketball star Rabbit divorced with custody of his teenage boy as they live through counterculture of the late Sixties.

The Book of Daniel by E. L. Doctorow

Fictionalized account of the Julias and Ethyl Rosenberg trial and subsequent execution. Told with flashbacks to the 40s and 50s by their oldest son Daniel, who is involved in Sixties political activism. Doctorow’s radicalism kept this work of art from the success it deserved.

The Other by Tom Tryon

A horror novel by one time actor turned writer (also the Harvest Home series). The novel centers upon a child’s mummified finger which draws the question as to which of the twin boys is alive and which is dead. Answer: The other one. Tryon is perhaps most remembered as the monster in the 1958 horror film I married a Monster From Outer Space .

Comedy 1971

Best Comedy Recording: This Is a Recording – Lily Tomlin

Non Fiction 1971

The Happy Hooker: My Own Story by Xaviera Hollander

Open sexual prose describing Ms Hollander’s work as a high end prostitute and madam in New York from 1968 to 1971. After the book was published she was arrested and left America to her home country Holland where she has lived happily as a Dutch citizen ever since.

A Separate Reality: Further Conversations with Don Juan by Carlos Castenada

The second book in the trilogy brought him the most attention. The nature of the writing in promoting the use of Peyote, a hallucinogenic drug, caused much controversy as to if these tripping Indian witch doctors existed at all. A reclusive with a small cult following everything about him has been strange and mysterious.

Nonscience by Brian J. Ford

The fun of the complete title: Nonscience and the Pseudotrans mogrificationalific Egocentrified Reorientational Proclivities Inherently Intracorporated In Expertistical Cerebrointellectualised Redeploymentation with Special Reference to Quasi-Notional Fashionistic Normativity, The Indoctrinationalistic Methodological Modalities and Scalar Socio-Economic Promulgationary Improvementalisationalism Predelineated Positotaxically Toward Individualistified Mass-Acceptance Gratificationalistic Securipermanentalisationary Professionism, or How To Rule The World. 

A Guide to Middle Earth by Robert Foster

An encyclopedic reference book of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. It was limited to 2000 numbered editions. In 1978 the author doubled the size of it under the new name The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.

Robert Coles – Migrants, Sharecroppers, Mountaineers, vol 2 of Children of Crisis – Pulitzer Prize, 1973

B. F. Skinner – Beyond Freedom and Dignity

Pierre Berton – The Last Spike
The South Goes North, vol 3 of Children of Crisis – Pulitzer Prize, 1973
Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel – Hess: A Biography
Alison Plowden – Young Elizabeth

Literary News 1971

Nobel Prize for Literature: Pablo Neruda

The Pulitzer Prize:

Fiction: none
Drama: The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel
History: Roosevelt: The Soldier Of Freedom by James MacGregor Burns
Biography or Autobiography: Robert Frost: The Years of Triumph, 1915 -1938 by Lawrance Thompson
Poetry: The Carrier of Ladders by William S. Merwin
General Nonfiction: The Rising Sun by John Toland

1971 Tony Awards (theater)

Best Play: Sleuth by Anthony Shaffer
Best Actor Play: Brian Bedford, The School for Wives
Best Actress Play: Maureen Stapleton, Gingerbread Lady
Best Supporting Actor Play: Paul Sand, Story Theater
Best Supporting Actress Play: Rae Allen, And Little Miss Reardon Drinks a Little
Best Director Dramatic Play: Peter Brook, A Midsummer Night’s Dream