Good as Gold (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Joseph Heller |
| Products | Political satire novel |
Good as Gold represents the third literary work authored by Joseph Heller. Segments of the novel were initially published in The New York Times during 1976 and later featured in Playboy in April 1979. The complete book was released toward the end of 1979, accompanied by a dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon.
Plot
Dr. Bruce Gold, a middle-aged Jewish professor specializing in English at a university, experiences an unhappy marriage and strained family relationships, alongside limited achievements in literature. Following his positive critique of a book authored by the President of the United States, he is presented with the chance to become the first Jewish individual appointed as United States Secretary of State. To obtain this role, he contemplates divorcing his current wife and marrying the daughter of a senior statesman known for anti-Semitic views.
Literary significance and criticism
Critics and readers alike acclaimed the novel as a revival of the linguistic wit and satirical style that defined Heller’s earlier masterpiece, Catch-22, marking a departure from the more somber mood found in Something Happened. In Good as Gold, Heller extends his satire to the U.S. government, paralleling his previous examinations of military and corporate institutions.
Prominently, Gore Vidal included this work among his top five post-World War II novels, praising it as Heller "at his deadly best," offering insight into a cunning political opportunist.
John Leonard of The New York Times described the book as a "savage" portrayal filled with "a nightmare of abuse and opportunism," delivered through incisive wit and biting humor.