I recently read the book Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe holds a
doctorate in American Studies from Yale University and is the author of many non fiction
books such as The Right Stuff, In Our Time, and Clutter and Vine. Bonfire of the Vanities
was his first fiction work. This book was published by Bantam Books Inc. and was
I believe the theme of this book to be true to oneself and trust no one but oneself.
It is show many times in this book that people will go below their morals simply for
personal advancement. It is also shown that human nature allows for many changes of
The main character in this book is Sherman McCoy. Sherman begins the story as a
wealthy bonds salesmen living in a $3,200,000 apartment on Park Avenue. Sherman
refers to himself as "Master of the Universe" many times throughout the story. This
shows his feelings of superiority over the rest of the human race. Sherman was "well
brought up and from all the right schools". His father is a retired, wealthy, successful
businessman that is well respected throughout the world. Sherman's wife, Judy, is
somewhat cool too him. She is very extravagant and gives the impression that she may be
in the marriage simply for the money. Their daughter Campbell is six when the story
begins and is very innocent to the ways of the world. Maria Ruskin is a young woman of
about thirty who is married to Arthur Ruskin, a wealthy man of about sixty. Maria and
Sherman are in the process of a drawn out affair when the story begins.
This book tells about the events that occur in New York City over the course of a
year. This story begins when Sherman and Maria go out on a date one evening and end
up lost in the Bronx. As they are coming through a run-down neighborhood in
Sherman's black Mercedes, two African-American teenage boys approach the car.
...