Compulsion book by meyer levin

Read this because i watched and enjoyed the movie adaption. The author was the defendant meyer levin, who had been a fellow student of loeb and leopold and who had served as a reporter for a chicago newspaper at the time of the crime. This new edition of meyer levin s classic literary thriller compulsion reintroduces the fictionalized case of leopold and loeb once considered the crime of the century to a new generation. The novel, for which levin was given a special edgar award by the mystery writers of america in 1957, was the basis for levin s own 1957 play adaptation and the 1959 film based on it, starring orson welles. This incisive psychological portrait of two young murderers seized the imagination of an era and is generally recognized as paving the way for the. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Buy compulsion book by meyer levin,gabriel levin,marcia clark. These are only a smattering of the names meyer levin has others calling him in his disturbing, strangely involving new book, the obsession. Heartbreaking as it is gripping,compulsion is written with a tense and penetrating force that led thelos angeles times to call levin, the most significant jewish writer of his times. It was this book that was the cause of the latter, as levin, who had been a classmate of the murderers, penned a notevenveiled fictional account of the case, which loeb objected to. The 20th century was not very old when chicago played host to what was freely billed the crime of the century. Certain crimes seem to epitomize the thinking of their era and this is a documentary novel of the loebleopold case which brought into play the psychoanalytical point of view of our time, much as dreisers american tragedy represented the sociological view of his.

The author covered the trial as a cub reporter, and presciently recognized both the horror and the oddities. Levin was published in the menorah journal before he was 20, and continued to write until his death at the age of 75. The novel, for which levin was given a special edgar award by the mystery writers of america in 1957, was the basis for levins own 1957 play adaptation and the 1959 film based on it, starring orson welles. Meyer levin, american author of novels and nonfiction about the jewish people and israel. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Norman mailer referred to him as one of the best american writers working in the realistic tradition. This is a signed on front facing page, hardcover, first edition, first printing of the settlers by meyer levin. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. The avowed purpose of meyer levins compulsion is to answer the anguished question of motivethe question which must have corroded the hearts and minds of the three families involved. The haunting of meyer levin by benno weiser varon, in midstream, 22, 1976, pp. Zanuck although the principal roles are played by dean stockwell and bradford dillman, top billing went to orson welles. Compulsion by meyer levin overdrive rakuten overdrive. Meyer levin october 7, 1905 july 9, 1981 was an american novelist. Author meyer levin was a reporter and fellow university of chicago student at the time.

Buy this book the horrific murder in 1924 of 14yearold bobby franks in chicago by nathan leopold. Meyer levin books list of books by author meyer levin. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The novel compulsion was first published in hardcover in october 1956. He was a writer and director, known for compulsion 1959, lo tafhidenu 1947 and beit avi 1947. Compulsion is narrated by reporter sid silver, who is a fictionalized version of author meyer levin, who actually knew leopold and loeb. He was praised by some of the greatest authors and thinkers of his time. The film is based on the 1956 novel of the same name by meyer levin, which in turn was a fictionalized account of the leopold and loeb murder trial. The improbable career of novelist meyer levin somehow saw him ensnarled in lawsuits with both anne franks father and nathan leopold, of leopold and loeb infamy. They are both boy geniuses, and at the tender ages of seventeen and eighteen had already graduated from college. And ernest hemingway called levins book citizens a fine american novel. Meyer levins compulsion is a fictionalized portrayal of the infamous case of leopold and loeb. Before, we had thought the boys could only have committed the murder under some sudden dreadful impulse.

Meyer levin, the author of compulsion, a highly successful novel about the 1920s leopoldloeb murder case that was made into a play and. Novelist meyer levin covered the leopoldloeb trial as a student reporter and, some 30 years later, returned to the subject and the reporters perspective in novelized form in compulsion, published in 1956. I like that levin wrote from the perspective of sid silver, a. Meyer levin has 43 books on goodreads with 4676 ratings. Click to read more about compulsion by meyer levin. The novel, for which levin was given a special edgar award by. It happened in 1924, when two rich young men kidnapped and murdered a boy simply to exercise what they believed to be their superior intellectual skills. Meyer levin was born on october 7, 1905 in chicago, illinois, usa. In this retelling of their story, leopold and loeb become judd steiner and artie straus. Levin first became known with the novel yehuda 1931.

Levin is the son of the american novelist meyer levin best known for compulsion, the first nonfiction novel and french novelist tereska torres. Buy compulsion online of indias largest online book store, only genuine products. This new edition of meyer levins classic literary thriller compulsion reintroduces the fictionalized case of leopold and loeb once considered the crime of the century to a new generation. Novelist meyer levin covered the leopoldloeb trial as a student reporter and, some 30 years later, returned to the subject and the reporters perspective in. Compulsion by meyer levin this extraordinary book, a fictionalized narrative of 1924s crime of the century, first met the public eye in 1956, three decades after the murder, the trial, and the imprisonment of two young killers. In 1945 he wrote and produced the first palestinian feature film, my fathers house book, 1947, which tells of jews who are driven out of poland and. Buy compulsion books online at best prices in india by meyer levin,gabriel levin,marcia clark from. Throughout his 60 years of professional work, levin was a constant innovator, reinventing himself and stretching his literary style with remarkable versatility. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Compulsion ebook by meyer levin 9781941493038 rakuten kobo. And ernest hemingway called levin s book citizens a fine american novel one of the best i ever read. In 1945 he wrote and produced the first palestinian feature film, my fathers house book, 1947, which tells of jews who are driven out of poland and reunite in palestine. In compulsion, originally published in 1956, meyer levin strives to answer a question that has lingered with him since the murder of 14yearold robert franks in 1924. Paying close attention to historical detail, compulsion is a deftly crafted novel that documents author meyer levin as a particularly gifted storyteller that will keep his readers total engaged from beginning to end.

Publishers weekly meyer levins astonishingly good novelas psychological thriller and as courtroom drama, compulsion has few peers. But now we learned how the deed had been marked by a long. Certain crimes seem to epitomize the thinking of their era and this is a documentary novel of. This new edition of meyer levins classic literary thriller compulsion reintroduces the fictionalized case of leopold and loeb once considered the crime of the. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial.

This compelling fictional account of the 1924 leopold and loeb murder of bobby franks makes an excellent read. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Author meyer levin 19051981 was a former classmate of the two killers, and he wrote this readable account some three decades after the crime occurred. The settlers by meyer levin nook book ebook barnes. Compulsion by meyer levin meet your next favorite book. New york is in very good condition with slight vertical toning on front facing page and remainder mark on outer bottom edge of book. Written by meyer levin, audiobook narrated by chris obrien. Compulsion forces us to ask what drives some further into darkness, and some to seek redemption. Compulsion by meyer levin, 9781941493021, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Meyer wrote the 1956 novel compulsion, inspired by the leopold and loeb case.

Compulsion is a 1959 american crime drama film directed by richard fleischer. Compulsion by meyer levin book cover, description, publication history. Meyer levin, the author of compulsion, a highly successful novel about the 1920s leopoldloeb murder case that was made into a play and film, as well as a score of books of fiction and. Early on, a pair of judds hornrimmed eyeglasses is found at the scene. He was married to tereska torres and mabel hall schamp. Jul 11, 1981 meyer levin, the author of compulsion, a highly successful novel about the 1920s leopoldloeb murder case that was made into a play and film, as well as a score of books of fiction and. It begins with sid accidentally being drawn into the case of the kidnapped boy, and follows the story through what was called the trial of the century, when steiner and strauss parents paid for the best legal. Jta praise for meyer levin s compulsion before in cold blood, before the executioners song, meyer levin s compulsion was the standardbearer for what we think of as the nonfiction novelthough this trial took place in 1924, the book raises issues pertaining to society and our justice systemsuch as popular biases, groupthink, and the. Buy a cheap copy of compulsion book by meyer levin. Compulsion is based on the infamous leopold and loeb case, considered the crime of the century, in which a pair of privileged jewish university of chicago students killed a 14yearold boy in 1924 just to prove their intellectual superiority. Buy compulsion book by meyer levin,gabriel levin,marcia. Dec, 2011 the writer of the adaptation was meyer levin a journalist and novelist who died thirty years ago and is today altogether too unread and unsung.

Compulsion was the first documentary or nonfiction. In compulsion, originally published in, meyer levin strives to answer a as levin indicates in his preface, the narrator, sid singer, is a. Based on the leopold and loeb case of 1924 once considered the crime of the 20th century meyer levins compulsion presents both an. Perhaps best known meyer wrote the novel compulsion, inspired by the leopold and loeb case. Tom nolan, the wall street journal in many ways, compulsion is a period piece, but its ability to communicate the horror of this. Obsessed with nietzsches idea of the superhuman, both boys decide to prove that they are above the laws of man by arbitrarily picking and murdering a jewish boy in their neighborhood. Marcia clark judd steiner and artie straus have it all. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. As levin indicates in his preface, the narrator, sid singer, is a standin for levin himself, just as arties straus and judd steiner are standins for richard loeb and nathan leopold, the two young men who committed the murder. In another sense too, the loebleopold case belongs more to the 50s than the 20s when it was a singular, and shocking. Meyer levin, born october 8, 1905, chicago, illinois, u. Compulsion is narrated by sid silver, a budding journalist at the university of chicago and a fictional surrogate for meyer levin, who was a classmate of leopold and loeb and reported on their trial himself.