Still Life with Woodpecker

Still Life with Woodpecker, Tom Robbins’s third novel, was published in 1980 by Bantam Books. The novel—which includes elements of fantasy, magical realism, absurdism, satire, and philosophy—centers on protagonist Leigh-Cheri Furstenberg-Barcalona, an exiled princess who falls in love with bomber and outlaw Bernard Mickey Wrangle, who is also known as the Woodpecker. As their love story unfolds in the form of a postmodern fairy tale, Robbins explores the animalistic nature of humans in the modern world and subverts the conventions of the bildungsroman as the protagonist grows into immaturity.

This study guide refers to the e-book edition, published in 2003 by Bantam Books.

Content Warning: The source material features depictions of abortion, miscarriage, and domestic terrorism. Additionally, the source material uses outdated and offensive terms for women, Mexican Americans, Arab people, and Black people, which are replicated in this guide only in direct quotes of the source material.

Plot Summary

In the Prologue, an author character addresses the reader. This author has a new electric typewriter and is about to start writing the novel. Throughout the book, this author character will intermittently appear to share his progress and frustrations with the reader.