Cassada
Cassada is the revised version of an earlier novel , The Arm of Flesh , by the American writer James Salter , published in 2000.
content
The young pilot Cassada is introduced to the everyday life of an American squadron stationed in post-war Germany in the 1950s. Salter's almost spartan-looking, very factual writing style corresponds to the brief dialogues among the pilots. A failed marriage and a love affair that has not been lived out contrast the internal rivalries in the season. With the death of Cassada in a bad weather situation, in which he saves the life of his rival, whose radio has failed, one of the most realistic descriptions of modern aviation ends, as many military pilots confirm.
Commenting on this book, the New York Times commented: It is not often that a writer of the highest order knows enough about flying to be able to write about it well; Saint-Exupéry was one; Salter is the other.
Bibliographical information
- Malte Friedrich (transl. 2003 Berlin: Berlin): Cassada , ISBN 3-8270-0094-7 ; (TB Munich: btb): ISBN 3-442-73277-8
Web links
- Review notes on Cassada at perlentaucher.de
- "Cassada": A Writer's Early Effort Gets a New (and Altered) Life - Reviewed January 5, 2001 in the New York Times