But Sawyer's creator is unable to offer advice or inspiration. Twain is deeply depressed over mounting debts, a failed publishing company, the death of a son and daughter, and a fickle public that isn't much interested in his cynical late works like Pudd'nhead Wilson . Undaunted, Tom Sawyer sets off across America in search of a mentor. Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man , however, never locates much of a target for Heller's gifts. Eugene Pota, like Heller, is a successful writer with a comfortable lifestyle.
Nothing appears to be at stake, either artistically or psychologically.
It's inconceivable that Heller meant the book to be published as it stands. But even if this is the book he wanted us to see, it clearly hasn't received the attention of a copy editor. The first one makes us laugh, and the second one makes us sorry we laughed the first time. There are inexcusable typos, such as the misspelling of writer Jerzy Kosinski's name. Several of the later chapters seem inexplicably underwritten and dashed-off, suggesting Heller didn't have the opportunity to sharpen or rewrite portions of the book before he died.