SOURCE: Bromwich, David. A review of The Runaway Soul. New Republic 206, no. 4 (27 January 1992): 30-4.

In the following review, Bromwich offers a stylistic analysis of The Runaway Soul.

The words “narcissist” and “solipsist” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have very different meanings. A narcissist sees himself in everything. A solipsist sees everything in himself. The narcissist has a chance of becoming a great artist, in genres related to the monologue. The solpsist is more likely to act with some human decency, notwithstanding a certain blindness to the reality of other people. Harold Brodkey frankly presents himself as a narcissist and a solipsist at once; it could even be said that the makes recognition of the fact a part of his metier. He talks a good deal, in writing, about being his kind of writer; about living the life he has to live in order to publish his life...