Book Review: Revolutionary Road

An Introduction to Richard Yate’s First Novel

Mar 30, 2009 Sabrina Louise Webb

The novel charts the lives of Frank & April Wheeler, the seemingly-happy couple that live on Revolutionary Road, Connecticut, in the 1950s.

The novel opens with April Wheeler starring in an embarrassingly-bad theatre production, ‘The Petrified Forest’. Clearly bored with the banality of day to day life, participating in the amateur local production is an attempt to be extraordinary and different.

Following the end of the play, Frank and April end up arguing which nearly cumulates in a physical fight – something that according to April, has happened before. The extent to which Frank and April are both frustrated and unhappy with each other and their lives begins to be unpicked.

Affair

Frank is stuck in a dead-end job at a local factory, which sells business-related machines. April is a housewife; looking after their two children. During his humdrum life at work, Frank ends up pursuing another woman, Maureen, and begins an affair with her. April too, ends up sleeping with a man that is not her husband; a friend and neighbour, Shep.

Paris

Frank and April’s relationship is still frosty; unexpectedly, April approaches Frank with an outrageous idea. She persuades him that a change of scenery is needed. The pair decide to move to Paris with their two children and start again: April wants to take the role of bread-winner so that Frank ‘can find himself.’

Pregnancy

However, the Wheeler’s best laid plans are foiled, when April discovers she is pregnant. The pair first decides to delay leaving, but as time passes the plan to move to Europe disintegrates completely, condemning the pair to continue the life that they currently have. But, as the Wheeler’s continue to live a life of lies, betrayal and tragedy is unavoidable.

Themes

There are several themes within the novel. The first and perhaps most obvious, is its critique of decadence and materialism that was the dominant ideology of 1950s America. On the surface, the Wheeler’s have everything that anyone could want; the nuclear family, the so-called happy marriage and the beautiful home.

Loneliness is also a key theme; one might expect the Wheeler’s to be happy, but in fact they are both desperately lonely. They are both searching for happiness and the tragedy lies within the fact that they never find it.

The Author

Richard Yates published ‘Revolutionary Road’ in 1961; it was his first novel. Not only was it received with critical acclaim by numerous people, including other authors, but it was a finalist for the 1962 National Book Award.

Reference & Useful Links

‘Revolutionary Road’

Publishers: Greenwood Press

Publication Date: 31-12-1961

ISBN: 0375708448

Copies of ‘Revolutionary Road’ are available here.

The copyright of the article Book Review: Revolutionary Road in American Fiction is owned by Sabrina Louise Webb. Permission to republish Book Review: Revolutionary Road in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Revolutionary Road