Saul Bellow's sixth novel, Herzog is considered by many to be his first masterpiece. Not only did it win Bellow his first of two National Book Awards, but Herzog also brought together the themes that the author has been working with since his 1944 debut Dangling Man. Since its publication in 1964, Herzog has served as a key text about selfhood in the increasingly neurotic long-20th century.
Set shortly after the dissolution of his second marriage, Herzog follows the title character as he tries to reestablish his life. In between talking with lawyers and traveling between New England and Chicago, Herzog imagines writing numerous letters. The subjects of these letters range from people...