Leviathan (Auster novel)

Leviathan is a 1992 novel by American author Paul Auster. The narrative centers around the complex relationships between three writers: Peter Aaron, Benjamin Sachs, and Lillian Stern. The story unfolds as Aaron attempts to understand the mysterious and tragic demise of his friend, Sachs, who embarks on a path of increasingly radical and ultimately self-destructive actions.

The novel explores themes of friendship, betrayal, identity, political disillusionment, violence, and the power of storytelling. Sachs' transformation from a promising novelist into a political radical, involving bomb-making and acts of sabotage, serves as a central plot point and a meditation on the individual's response to societal injustice.

Lillian Stern, a sculptor and photographer, acts as a catalyst in the lives of both Aaron and Sachs, embodying both artistic inspiration and a source of conflict. The narrative shifts perspectives and timelines, creating a fragmented and layered account of the events leading up to Sachs' death.

The title, Leviathan, alludes to Thomas Hobbes' philosophical work of the same name, referencing the concept of a powerful and potentially destructive force, whether embodied in the state or within the individual. This allusion underscores the novel's exploration of power, authority, and the potential for individuals to challenge or succumb to these forces. The "Leviathan" can be interpreted as the destabilizing force of societal anxieties or the destructive potential within Sachs himself.

Auster's characteristic metafictional elements are present in Leviathan, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, and prompting the reader to consider the nature of truth and the role of the narrator in shaping the story. The novel is notable for its intricate plot, its exploration of complex moral issues, and its examination of the artistic process.