Standard fare for Huxley here, make fun of various types of people, put in a selection of philosophical musings, and make sure there is some sort of human interest - a love triangle or an affair or something tragic, not forgetting the usual good measures of irony and snobbery. This time it's the Americans he has us sniggering at, and he does it rather well, despite this book being written nearly 70 years ago, they have the same brash and uncultured stereotype today, (sorry to any Americans reading this, I'm sure you're not all like that). The plot was somewhat predictable, and the ending ridiculous and not as amusing as the opening. Throughout the story there is a plot running about aging and time, and I'm sure he borrowed some of his ideas from the work his brother did with with the Axolotl, (a pedomorphic salamander). I didn't quite enjoy this as much as Eyeless in Gaza, or Antic Hay, but it was no effort at all to get through it and it was enjoyable enough. ( )

2399 After Many a Summer Dies the Swan, by Aldous Huxley (read 28 Jul 1991) I read this because it is on Anthony Burgess's list of the 99 best novels in the 1939-1983 period. It is one of the four 1939 novels on that list. It is a goofy story , about an eccentric southern California millionaire who has a castle and spends money like crazy. There is a lot Huxley fancy talk, and I really did not appreciate it as I did in 1950, when I reveled in such while reading Point Counter Point. In the book there is no mention of a swan. ( )

One of Huxley's more accessible satires, especially to American readers. This is due in part to the novel being set in California of the mid Twentieth Century. In addition to poking fun at the California Lifestyle, he has fun with the concept of evolution. It is also a wonderful twist on parables that play with the moral "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".

It has been quite a while since I read this work, but the themes still come through to me. Highly suggested for lovers of classic satire that does not require much updating of the material. Also highly recommended for people exploring Huxley's fiction writing. ( )