Nelson Algren Reading from The Man with the Golden Arm : From Great American Authors Read from Their Works, Volume 2

Author Nelson Algren reads from his award-winning novel, The Man with the Golden Arm. The passagetells of Frankie Machine's wife, Sophie, who confined to a wheelchair since adrunk-driving accident caused by Frankie. The narration implies that Sophie'sparalysis is psychological in origin, and is unconsciously used to keep Frankiewith her. Frankie is in hiding, being sought by the police for murder. Sophiewaits anxiously for his return, recalling their early love, and drifting in andout of fantasies that foreshadow the breakdown and mental institution thatawait her.Algren planned the reading meticulously, arranging varioussections from the novel to form a coherent whole.