Homer & Langley

E. L. Doctorow's "Homer & Langley" delves into the extraordinary, reclusive lives of the Collyer brothers in their decaying Fifth Avenue mansion. Homer, blind and deeply intuitive, narrates their peculiar existence, dominated by his brother Langley's eccentric vision to create a 'dateless newspaper' from the daily hoard of newsprint. Damaged by mustard gas in the Great War, Langley, perhaps driven to madness or genius, insists on scavenging the city's discards, filling their home with an unimaginable array of items. Despite their fierce desire to shut out the world, the tumultuous 20th century—with its wars, political shifts, and cultural movements—continually invades their cluttered sanctuary. A colorful procession of visitors, including immigrants, prostitutes, gangsters, jazz musicians, and society figures, passes through their lives, forcing them to confront the evolving American landscape. Doctorow masterfully blends their hermetic world with sweeping historical events, creating a poignant and darkly humorous exploration of survival, meaning, and the eccentricities of two brothers striving to create their own isolated universe amidst the chaos of American history.