Conclusion
In this paper I have tried to delineate the main themes of a complex and long story, connecting them to the world outside the book to look for reasons explaining the international success of the novel The Art of Fielding.
You told me once that a soul isn’t something a person is born with but something that must be built, by effort and error, study and love. And you did that with more dedication than most, that work of building a soul -not for your own benefit but for the benefit of those that knew you. [33]
The maturation and construction of the soul is the central theme of the book and it concerns all characters, from the youngest -Henry, for example- to the eldest -President Affenlight. This evolution is perfectly portrayed in all its difficulties and inner struggles. The Art of Fielding is a novel of ambitions and failure, of possibilities to restart a life after losing everything for having made the wrong choices.
Has the novel a too generous happy ending? Yes and no.
Yes, as it
depicts the typical story of American’s successes and second possibilities, of
holding tight against difficulties and fulfilling commitments. No, not only
because of the death of president Affenlight, but also because all principal
characters have not managed to reach their dreams -Henry, for example, is not
drafted for minors in first places as he exepcted- but they learn how to catch
the best of what they have, without feeling sorry for what they lost.
Sources
Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
Hickins, M. A Novelist Discovers ‘The Art of Fielding’. The Wall Street Journal, 6.09.2011. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/09/06/chad-harbach-on- baseball-and-the-art-of-fielding/
L’arte di vivere in difesa di Chad Harbach. Retrieved from http://www.anobii.com/books/L’arte_di_vivere_in_difesa/9788817056076/016d8248 91437b0bd3
Mejias, J. Willkommen in der Topliga, Junge, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 23.01.2012. Retrieved from http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/buecher/amerikas-neuer- literaturstar-willkommen-in-der-topliga-junge-11620550.html
Miksak, T., The Art of Fielding. Words on books and a few other things from time to time, aired by KZYX&Z-FM, 90.7 Philo CA, on September 4, 2011 at 10:55 am & Wednesday, Sept 7 at 1 pm. Retrieved from http://wordsonbooks.blogspot.be/2011/09/art-of-fielding.html
Severgnini, B. (2014). La vita è un viaggio. RCS Libri, MIlano.
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach on Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10996342-the-art-of-fielding
Zeitchik, S. ‘Art of Fielding’s’ Chad Harbach learns art
of dealing with a hit, Los Angeles Times,
21.04.2012. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/21/entertainment/la-et-chad-harbach-20120421
[1] Tea Obreht, as printed on the book cover.
[2] Zeitchik, S. ‘Art of Fielding’s’ Chad Harbach learns art of dealing with a hit, Los Angeles Times, 21.04.2012. Retrieved on http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/21/entertainment/la-et-chad-harbach-20120421
[3] ibidem
[4] Mejias, J. Willkommen in der Topliga, Junge, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 23.01.2012. Retrieved on http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/buecher/amerikas-neuer-literaturstar-willkommen-in-der-topliga-junge-11620550.html
[5] Jonathan Franzen, as printed on the book cover.
[6] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 237
[7] Severgnini, B. (2014). La vita è un viaggio. RCS Libri, MIlano. My translation from Italian into English
[8] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 390
[9] Ivi, p. 394
[10] Opinions retrieved from http://www.anobii.com/books/L’arte_di_vivere_in_difesa/9788817056076/016d824891437b0bd3
[11] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 439
[12] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 6
[13] Ivi, p. 9
[14]Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 9
[15] Miksak, T., The Art of Fielding. Words on books and a few other things from time to time, aired by KZYX&Z-FM, 90.7 Philo CA, on September 4, 2011 at 10:55 am & Wednesday, Sept 7 at 1 pm. Retrieved from http://wordsonbooks.blogspot.be/2011/09/art-of-fielding.html
[16] Hickins, M. A Novelist Discovers ‘The Art of Fielding’. The Wall Street Journal, 6.09.2011. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/09/06/chad-harbach-on-baseball-and-the-art-of-fielding/
[17] ibidem
[18] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 11
[19] ibidem
[20] ivi, p. 12
[21] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 14
[22] ivi, p. 18
[23] Hickins, M. A Novelist Discovers ‘The Art of Fielding’. The Wall Street Journal, 6.09.2011. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/09/06/chad-harbach-on-baseball-and-the-art-of-fielding/
[24] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 393
[25] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 381
[26] ivi, p. 221
[27] ivi, p. 381
[28] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 134
[29] ivi, p. 338
[30] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 56
[31] ivi, p. 115
[32] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 411
[33] Harbach, C. (2011). The Art of Fielding: a Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, p. 473