Being There by Jerzy Kosinski

Audie Award Nominee, Best Solo Narration, 2013

[ About Being There ]

Jerzy Kosinski’s clever parable of a naive man thrust into the modern world is more pointed now than ever. Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, The Graduate), perhaps best known for his portrayals of vulnerable characters and antiheroes, gives an understated and exemplary performance of this satiric look at the unreality of American media culture.

Chance, the enigmatic gardener, becomes Chauncey Gardiner after getting hit by a limo belonging to a Wall Street tycoon. The whirlwind that follows brings Chance to his new status of political policy advisor and possible vice presidential candidate. His garden-variety political responses, inspired by television, become heralded as visionary, and he is soon a media icon due to his unknown background and vague, yet appealing, conversational nature. Being There was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, starring Peter Sellers as Chance, in 1979.

[ My Review ]

Being There by Jerzy Kosinski was originally published with Harcourt in 1971 and is a striking exploration of modern society, a fascinating and very entertaining satirical study of human nature. Peter Sellers was the main character in the 1979 movie of the same name and, in 2012, Dustin Hoffman put his voice into the mix with this excellent reading. At almost three hours long, this audiobook was the perfect length to hold my attention and of course Dustin Hoffman’s voice was mesmeric to listen to.

Being There is the story of Chance, a man who had spent his whole life as a gardener within the walls of a grand house belonging to a now retired successful lawyer. Chance has had minimal interaction with the owner over the years but he has never been left wanting for anything. He has no social security, no connection to the outside world but, as quite a simple-minded character, he is content. He works in the garden, his meals are brought to him by the maid and he watches TV in his downtime.

Chance’s world takes a dramatic turn when the lawyer dies, leaving Chance homeless and rudderless. Following the eviction by the legal team, Chance has no place to call home but an unprecedented situation presents itself when he is knocked down by the limo of a Wall Street mogul. The wife of the mogul is in the car and is appalled by the accident. Claiming full responsibility she takes Chance to her home so that he can recover from any injuries in comfort. Chance, through a series of events, becomes known as Chauncey Gardiner and his whole sense of being becomes unmoored in a whirlwind of activity and happenings.

Chauncey was a man of few words, who could neither read nor write, but his silence and one-liners attracted the attention of some very senior political and business figures. Everyone wanted to know more about him but he was accepted as a man of mystery, one who had managed to stay very much under the radar, a wise man. In a world of chaos, his simplicity and his gentleness were understood to be the traits of a very strong-minded and solid individual. His personality was seen as something very special, prompting others to extract words of wisdom and opinions from him. Within a short space of time Chauncey’s company was in demand and he very quickly became a household name with a very unexpected career ahead of him.

Being There highlights the absurd nature of human behaviour using satire and wit. The premise is farcical yet strangely enough, not too surprising! Chauncey Gardiner is put on a pedestal, lauded for his uncomplicated personality and unadorned concepts. His gardening terminology is interpreted as a metaphor for the economy and his sensible words are hoovered up by all within reach. With exaggerated praise and many plaudits, Chauncey Gardiner becomes someone important fast. An unsuspecting hero of his own story, his trajectory is brilliantly depicted, written with great irony and humour. Dustin Hoffman’s reading is superb, with a tone that is pitch perfect, delivering a deeply engaging, almost theatre-like experience.

[ I listened to the audiobook of Being There via the Borrowbox App/Cork City Libraries ]