Description
In this darkly ironic novel, Kurt Vonnegut presents the fictional memoir of Howard W. Campbell Jr., an American playwright who becomes a Nazi propagandist and a secret U.S. spy during World War II. Narrated from an Israeli prison cell where he awaits trial for war crimes, Campbell’s story unfolds through a series of reflections that blur the lines between good and evil, exploring profound themes of identity, morality, and deception. Vonnegut masterfully uses a dual narrative, weaving between Campbell's present confinement and his treacherous past, to reveal the devastating impact of his double life on his sense of self. Ultimately, the novel serves as a powerful cautionary tale, encapsulated by Vonnegut's famous assertion: 'We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.'
Available Editions
paperback
Dial Press Trade Paperback
Published May 11, 1999
288 pages
ISBN: 9780385334143
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Details
First Published
1961
Language
eng
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Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut.