Crome Yellow

This is a work I personally prefer to Brave New World. It is brief, partly autobiographical, and suggests a satirical portrayal of the author's own experience with some members of the Bloomsbury group. But the literary merits of Crome Yellow exceed, by far, the scope of a biographical reading. As a Modernist work, Huxley's first novel breaks free from the traditional form, and creates a work of fiction with no definite plot. From beginning to end, it follows no particular chain or sequence of events with the usual conflict and climax structure, but recounts instead the different occurrences and the various feelings and thoughts of its characters.At the same time, the plot addresses the constants of existence namely death, freedom, isolation, and the meaninglessness of life along with the various defense mechanisms used by the different characters in order to cope with such anxieties.Denis flees the fear of death in the embrace of literary production and fame. Mr. Scogan denies both freedom and responsibility over his life by attributing his own failure to the powers of the cosmos. Jenny uses isolation to shut out the painful truths from her life. Similarly, Henry Wimbush isolates himself in the study of his ancestors' history because he fears the future and all that it can bring him. Priscilla, on the other hand, flees the meaninglessness of life by attaching meaning and omniscience to horoscope and astrology.Huxley's debut novel remains today a work so very underrated when compared to some of his other compositions. In truth, however, it is just as brilliant; different maybe in tone and atmosphere, but definitely worth your time.