Henderson the Rain King
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Henderson king.gif Henderson the Rain King is a 1959 novel by Saul Bellow. Eugene Henderson is an unhappy millionaire and pig farmer who searches for meaning and purpose in his life. His desperation at home brings him on a pilgrimage to Africa, where he hopes to find a new meaning to his seemingly lacking life. After his first native encounter ends in disaster, he arrives in a new village that soon declares him "Rain King". With a new found friendship with the native king, Dahfu, Henderson is brought unwillingly into the king's ritualistic search of a lion thought to be the reincarnation of his predecessor. During this time, Henderson and Dahfu engage in disscussions that help to fill Henderson's spiritual void. Following another disaster and narrow escape, Henderson returns, planning on becoming a doctor.
Henderson the Rain King (1959) follows a similar theme as his previous work, the short story Seize the Day (1956). Both feature men in or approaching middle age who are plagued by acute desperation and lack meaningful social contacts. While the first ends in a breakdown, Henderson the Rain King ends on a particularly upbeat note, at least in Henderson's eyes. The philosophical discussions and ramblings that take place between Henderson and the natives and within himself serve as a precursor to Bellow's next novel, Herzog (1964), which frequently engages in similar inquiries into life and meaning. It was said to be Bellow's own favourite amongst his books.
Other media
- Rain King" is a song by Sonic Youth from their album Daydream Nation.
- "The Rain King" is a song by the Counting Crows.
- One passage in the novel inspired Joni Mitchell to write the song Both Sides Now in 1967.
- "Rain King" is the name of an episode of The X-Files where Mulder and Scully investigate a man who claims to be able to control the weather.Template:Novel-stub