Conceptually unique, hilarious, and frightening, a: A Novel is the perfect literary manifestation of Andy Warhol's sensibility. In the late sixties, Warhol set out to turn a trade book into a piece of pop art, and the result was this astonishing account of the artists, superstars, addicts, and freaks who made up the Factory milieu. Created from audiotapes recorded in and around the Factory, a: A Novel begins with the fabulous Ondine popping several amphetamines and then follows its characters as they converse with inspired, speed-driven wit and cut swaths through the clubs, coffee shops, hospitals, and whorehouses of 1960s Manhattan.
O—(inverted sigh) Oh pardon me. SPF—And lettuc and tomato. O—In God's name. SPF—No potatoes. Lettuce & tomatoes. O—Lettuce and tomato, no potatoes. DD—No potatoes cause you're getting so fat. SPF—Whole wheat toast yeah, and uh, a very light coffee. DD—Obesity is not— B—Well what do you want him to turn into, a prune? DD—No, just a lovely plum. (waiter) Anybody else want anything here? O—Pardon me? (waiter) Anyone else care for anything here? O—Have you any sherbert? (Pause.) Well,
these tapes? They're very very expensive, hah? What price? What price? Ca- cause we may get a donation. No that is a lot of money, but we may get DD—You're well worth it, Ondine. SPF—I heard another tape, Ondine, that said that you were one of the founders of the mole association. O—I was the president of the mole people for for a long time. You are one of the original moles you really are. B—Oh I'm not the founder. O—I was known as the president of, but Norman BILLARDBALLS is the B—I don't
and-uh The SONG OF BERNADETTE … I … nihnah … they didn't even HAVE songs … I'm beginning an abcess on the side of my arm … It's delightful: I mean, I gave it to myself so-uh-ooo level. Anyway, wha happened We went to this thing called Pennisiffic-uhsociation … and elevated after our exposure Oh: it must be daown Park, divided by four. It's so-uh scary, you walk in, and it's marvelous … (Ixsam's own particular variety of distortion) O—IT CAN STAND UP … No, it
the … I'm gonna finish my carbolic acid and then we'll be going. Do you want to meet Rauschen-berg? No. (D) No? (O) Who is he? Uh, the number one artist. Is he really? (D) I think so. (O) I don't believe it. I think you are. Oh, come on, Drella, he doesn't make movies … he doesn't make movies. (D) He's trying to. (O) with sarcasm—He's trying to. Have I ever seen any of his work? (D) You might have. (O) What's, what's his most famous thing? (D) Uh, he's just very famous.
just so hurt. I ju, (laughter) I was. I said, “What're you talking about? Roger, are you mad?” And Dodo Mae Doom just giggled, she (Drella laughs) (Moxanne laughs) I love Dodo, I really do, although she's in cahoots with him. Oh. I don't under … She's in cahoots with him. understand that. Oh I, I do, because Dodo's a rather pleasant girl. (Drella & Taxi laugh) and she has to get along (laughs) Dodo Mae's very sweet. Yeah she is. Anybody would know
