The Scorpion

Paul Bowles

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1980

Book Brief

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Paul Bowles

The Scorpion

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1980

Book Details

Format

Short Story Collection • Fiction

Setting

Morocco • 1950s

Publication Year

1980

Audience

Adult

Super Short Summary

Paul Bowles' short story "The Scorpion" explores psychological tension and unease triggered by an individual's fascination with a scorpion in the desert. The narrative delves into the person's introspective journey, highlighting themes of isolation and self-discovery.

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Paul Bowles' The Scorpion delivers a haunting, poetic narrative that captures readers with its intense atmosphere and psychological depth. Critics praise its unique prose but note its fragmented structure can be challenging. The novella's rich, evocative imagery and complex themes leave a lasting impression, despite its occasional ambiguity.

Who Should Read The Scorpion?

Fans of Paul Bowles's The Scorpion are likely those who appreciate nuanced and introspective narratives set against exotic backdrops. Comparable to readers of Albert Camus's The Stranger and James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, they seek existential themes, detailed character studies, and rich, atmospheric settings.

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