Review: Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon

Flowers for Algernon is the title of a science fiction short story and a novel by American writer Daniel Keyes. The short story, written in 1958 and first published in the April 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1960.

Rating and Review of the book:

" A brilliant novel, not only enslaving the reader with the flow of thoughts and feelings of the hero, but forcing a closer look at modern society - and even wider - at our civilization." Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

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Author: Daniel Keyes

Pages: 311

Language: English

• The ideas for Flowers for Algernon developed over 14 years and were inspired by events in

Keyes's life, starting in 1945 with Keyes's conflict with his parents, who were pushing him through a pre-medical education despite his desire to pursue a writing career. Keyes felt that his education was driving a wedge between himself and his parents, and this led him to wonder what would happen if it were possible to increase a person's intelligence.

• A pivotal moment occurred in 1957 while Keyes was teaching English to students with special

needs; one of them asked him if it would be possible to be put into an ordinary class(mainstreamed) if he worked hard and became smart. Keyes also witnessed the dramatic change in another learning-disabled student who regressed after he was removed from regular lessons. Keyes said that "When he came back to school, he had lost it all. He could not read. He reverted to what he had been. It was a heart-breaker."

• Characters in the book were based on people in Keyes's life.

Charlie Gordon, 32 years old, demonstrates an IQ of 68 due to untreated phenylketonuria. Desiring to improve himself, Charlie attends reading and writing classes, taught by Miss Alice Kinnian, at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults. Two researchers at Beekman, Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss, are looking for a human test subject on whom to try a new surgical technique intended to increase intelligence. They have already performed the surgery on a mouse named Algernon, resulting in a dramatic improvement in his mental performance. Based on Alice's recommendation and his motivation to improve, Nemur and Strauss choose Charlie over smarter pupils to undergo the procedure. The operation is successful, and within the next three months Charlie's IQ reaches 185. But what lies ahead for him?