A Melon for Ecstasy is a 1971 novel written by John Fortune and John Wells.[1] The title is derived from an Arabic and Turkish proverb, "A woman for duty / A boy for pleasure / But a melon for ecstasy."
Written in an epistolary style, consisting of newspaper cuttings, letters, and extensive excerpts from the diary of its protagonist, the novel tells the story of Humphrey Mackevoy, a young man who achieves sexual satisfaction by boring holes in trees and penetrating them with his penis.
Intercut with the story of how his passion leads him into confusion, shame and prison, but eventually into acceptance of, and almost pride in his peculiarity, are a series of comic sub-plots involving the local naturalists' society (are the holes appearing in trees around town really the work of the sabre-toothed dormouse?); a feud between local councillors that leads to mass poisoning; Mackevoy's unwitting involvements in the sexual fantasies of teenager Rose Hopkins; and the increasingly outrageous behaviour of "mummy".
Literary significance and criticismedit
The novel is a satirical depiction of British sexual mores, newspaper letters to the editor, and public life in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Referencesedit
^Crews, Harry (1971-08-08). "A Melon For Ecstasy; By John Fortune and John Wells. 188 pp. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. $5.95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
External linksedit
Trash Fiction.co.uk on "A Melon for Ecstasy"
This article about a comedy novel of the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
melon, ecstasy, 1971, novel, written, john, fortune, john, wells, title, derived, from, arabic, turkish, proverb, woman, duty, pleasure, melon, ecstasy, first, editionauthorjohn, fortune, john, wellscountryunited, stateslanguageenglishgenrecomedypublisherputna. A Melon for Ecstasy is a 1971 novel written by John Fortune and John Wells 1 The title is derived from an Arabic and Turkish proverb A woman for duty A boy for pleasure But a melon for ecstasy A Melon for EcstasyFirst editionAuthorJohn Fortune and John WellsCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreComedyPublisherPutnamPublication date1971Media typePrint Hardcover Pages187 pp Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Literary significance and criticism 3 References 4 External linksPlot summary editWritten in an epistolary style consisting of newspaper cuttings letters and extensive excerpts from the diary of its protagonist the novel tells the story of Humphrey Mackevoy a young man who achieves sexual satisfaction by boring holes in trees and penetrating them with his penis Intercut with the story of how his passion leads him into confusion shame and prison but eventually into acceptance of and almost pride in his peculiarity are a series of comic sub plots involving the local naturalists society are the holes appearing in trees around town really the work of the sabre toothed dormouse a feud between local councillors that leads to mass poisoning Mackevoy s unwitting involvements in the sexual fantasies of teenager Rose Hopkins and the increasingly outrageous behaviour of mummy Literary significance and criticism editThe novel is a satirical depiction of British sexual mores newspaper letters to the editor and public life in the late 1960s and early 1970s References edit Crews Harry 1971 08 08 A Melon For Ecstasy By John Fortune and John Wells 188 pp New York G P Putnam s Sons 5 95 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 08 24 External links editTrash Fiction co uk on A Melon for Ecstasy nbsp This article about a comedy novel of the 1970s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it See guidelines for writing about novels Further suggestions might be found on the article s talk page vte nbsp This article about an epistolary novel or fictional diary of the 1970s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it See guidelines for writing about novels Further suggestions might be found on the article s talk page vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A Melon for Ecstasy amp oldid 1172053466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
