Plot summary, “Coming Apart” by Roger Rosenblatt in 4 Minutes - Book Review
0"Coming Apart" is a memoir by Roger Rosenblatt that focuses on his time at Harvard University during a particularly tumultuous period in the late 1960s. The memoir, published in 1997, explores the student protests and activism that swept across Harvard's campus in response to the Vietnam War.
Rosenblatt's memoir delves into the events that unfolded in the spring of 1969, when a group of students, many associated with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), occupied Harvard's main administrative office. The protest was a direct response to the university's perceived complicity in the Vietnam War. The author, who was a young English instructor at the time, provides a firsthand account of the chaos and examines the underlying reasons for the protests.
In "Coming Apart," Rosenblatt analyzes the causes and motivations behind the student activism at Harvard during that period. He includes interviews and perspectives from notable figures who were students at Harvard at the time, such as Al Gore, Martin Peretz, James Fallows, and James Atlas. By incorporating these viewpoints, Rosenblatt aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the student protests and their impact on the university and its community.
The memoir begins by setting the stage with the initial protest that ultimately led to the occupation of Harvard's main administrative office on April 9, 1969. Rosenblatt, having recently graduated from Harvard's Ph.D. program in English and working as an English instructor, provides insights into his own experiences and observations during this period. He highlights his popularity among undergraduate students and his nomination by the administration to serve as the master of Dunster House, a dormitory within the university.
Rosenblatt's memoir captures the atmosphere and tensions of the time, as well as the broader context of the Vietnam War and its impact on the Harvard community. It offers a personal and reflective account of the events, shedding light on the motivations and consequences of the student protests, and providing a nuanced perspective on this significant moment in Harvard's history.
Overall, "Coming Apart" is a memoir that explores the "Harvard wars" of the late 1960s, focusing on the student protests and activism surrounding the Vietnam War. Roger Rosenblatt's personal experiences and analysis provide readers with insights into this pivotal period in the university's history and offer a deeper understanding of the broader socio-political climate of the time.