The novel's protagonist is John Spada, an Italian-American who leads a multinational corporation. He also secretly heads a covert organisation called Proteus, aiming to free prisoners of conscience around the world. To achieve this, Proteus threatens to release a deadly botulism culture into selected cities' water supply.
Critical receptionedit
John Philip in The Canberra Times thought that the "essence of a gripping yarn is there; but the story, as it unfolds, falters and finally fails." He concluded: "All in all, a disappointing novel. A great deal of action is developed around a topical theme; but finally Morris West loses touch with reality."[2]
In her literary study of West and his work, Maryanne Confoy noted: "In Proteus West was trying to discover whether the goodness of one human being could triumph over the evil of another. If the thoroughly evil person violated a thoroughly good person, could such a violation be overcome by goodness alone? Would the good person have to resort to evil in the effort to sustain live."[3]
Publication historyedit
After its original publication in 1979 in England by publishers Collins[4] the novel was later published as follows:
The novel was translated into: Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian, Danish, Norwegian, German, French and Spanish in 1979; Finnish, Swedish and Japanese in 1980; Hebrew in 1982; and Slovenian in 1985 .[1]
Notesedit
Dedication: For the Prisoners of Conscience of whom to our shame there are far too many.
Epigraph: "It is becoming more and more obvious that it is not starvation, not microbes, not cancer, but man himself who is mankind's greatest danger because he has no adequate protection against psychic epidemics, which are infinitely more devasting in their effect than the greatest natural catastrophes." Modern Man in Search of a Soul, C. G. Jung
^ abcd"Austlit — Proteus by Morris West (Collins) 1979". Austlit. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^""Disappointing"". The Canberra Times, 19 May 1979, p12. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^Morris West: Literary Maverick by Maryanne Confoy, John Wiley & Sons, 2005, p159
^"Proteus (Collins)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^"Proteus (William Morrow)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
January 01, 1970
proteus, west, novel, proteus, 1979, novel, australian, writer, morris, west, originally, published, collins, england, 1979, proteusauthormorris, westcountryaustralialanguageenglishgenrefictionpublishercollinspublication, date1979media, typeprintpages273, isbn. Proteus 1979 is a novel by Australian writer Morris West It was originally published by Collins in England in 1979 1 ProteusAuthorMorris WestCountryAustraliaLanguageEnglishGenreFictionPublisherCollinsPublication date1979Media typePrintPages273 pp ISBN0002216744Preceded byThe Navigator Followed byThe Clowns of God Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Critical reception 3 Publication history 4 Notes 5 See also 6 ReferencesSynopsis editThe novel s protagonist is John Spada an Italian American who leads a multinational corporation He also secretly heads a covert organisation called Proteus aiming to free prisoners of conscience around the world To achieve this Proteus threatens to release a deadly botulism culture into selected cities water supply Critical reception editJohn Philip in The Canberra Times thought that the essence of a gripping yarn is there but the story as it unfolds falters and finally fails He concluded All in all a disappointing novel A great deal of action is developed around a topical theme but finally Morris West loses touch with reality 2 In her literary study of West and his work Maryanne Confoy noted In Proteus West was trying to discover whether the goodness of one human being could triumph over the evil of another If the thoroughly evil person violated a thoroughly good person could such a violation be overcome by goodness alone Would the good person have to resort to evil in the effort to sustain live 3 Publication history editAfter its original publication in 1979 in England by publishers Collins 4 the novel was later published as follows William Morrow USA 1979 5 Allen amp Unwin Australia 2017 1 and many other paperback editions 1 The novel was translated into Dutch Italian Portuguese Brazilian Danish Norwegian German French and Spanish in 1979 Finnish Swedish and Japanese in 1980 Hebrew in 1982 and Slovenian in 1985 1 Notes editDedication For the Prisoners of Conscience of whom to our shame there are far too many Epigraph It is becoming more and more obvious that it is not starvation not microbes not cancer but man himself who is mankind s greatest danger because he has no adequate protection against psychic epidemics which are infinitely more devasting in their effect than the greatest natural catastrophes Modern Man in Search of a Soul C G JungSee also edit1979 in Australian literatureReferences edit a b c d Austlit Proteus by Morris West Collins 1979 Austlit Retrieved 3 September 2023 Disappointing The Canberra Times 19 May 1979 p12 Retrieved 3 September 2023 Morris West Literary Maverick by Maryanne Confoy John Wiley amp Sons 2005 p159 Proteus Collins National Library of Australia Retrieved 3 September 2023 Proteus William Morrow National Library of Australia Retrieved 3 September 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Proteus West novel amp oldid 1180749919, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
