A New Life (novel)

A New Life is a 1961 novel by Bernard Malamud. It tells the story of Seymour Levin, a 30-year-old man who leaves his past, including a history of alcoholism and personal failures, behind in New York City to accept a teaching position at Cascadia College in the fictional state of the Pacific Northwest. The novel chronicles Levin's attempts to build a "new life" for himself, focusing on his struggles to adapt to the provincial academic environment, his growing involvement in departmental politics and a controversial curriculum reform, and his complex relationships, particularly his affair with Pauline Gilley, the wife of his colleague, Gerald Gilley. The narrative explores themes of personal redemption, intellectual disillusionment, the complexities of morality, and the challenges of creating a meaningful existence. A New Life is known for its blend of realism, social commentary, and tragicomic elements, and for its exploration of the post-war American landscape.