The Very Model of a Man

The Very Model of a Man retells the biblical story of Cain and Abel through Cain's perspective, beginning with his exile after killing his brother. The narrative follows Cain as he wanders through the land of Nod and establishes the first city. Through extensive monologues and encounters, Cain reflects on his relationship with his parents Adam and Eve, his brother Abel, and God himself. The story alternates between Cain's present circumstances and his memories of life in Eden and its aftermath. Howard Jacobson constructs his tale in dense, philosophical prose that examines questions of memory, jealousy, and destiny. His version of events challenges traditional interpretations while maintaining the fundamental power of the original Genesis story. The novel explores themes of exile and belonging, considering what it means to be cut off from both divine and human communion. At its core, it probes the nature of guilt and whether redemption is possible for someone who commits the first murder.

This book seems to have limited reader reviews available online, with only a handful of ratings on Goodreads and Amazon. Readers noted the unique perspective on the Biblical Cain and Abel story, and the complex exploration of sibling rivalry. Some praised Jacobson's prose style and dark humor. Primary criticisms focused on the dense, challenging writing style and slow pacing. Multiple readers mentioned struggling to finish the book, finding it "pretentious" and "overwrought." One reader on Goodreads stated it was "trying too hard to be clever." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.0/5 (8 ratings) Amazon: No current ratings The book appears to be out of print and difficult to find, which may explain the limited number of online reviews. Library catalogs show low circulation numbers, suggesting readers either abandon it or choose not to check it out.

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🔸 Howard Jacobson wrote this 1992 novel as a retelling of the Cain and Abel story from Cain's perspective, making it one of the earliest works to explore this biblical tale from the murderer's point of view. 🔸 The book's title is a play on the famous Gilbert and Sullivan song "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" from The Pirates of Penzance. 🔸 Despite being one of Jacobson's earlier works, it demonstrates his trademark blend of Jewish themes and dark humor that would later earn him the Man Booker Prize for The Finkler Question in 2010. 🔸 The novel explores complex theological questions about free will and predestination, suggesting that Cain's actions were necessary for human civilization to develop beyond Eden. 🔸 Jacobson wrote this book while teaching at Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now University), and has said that the academic environment influenced his approach to reinterpreting this ancient narrative.