"August Guy Grand himself was a billionaire. He had 180 millions cash deposits in New York banks, and this ready capital was of course but a part of his gross holdings."
Terry Southern's The Magic Christian takes place in 1950s America where being a billionaire was truly extraordinary as there were only 4 billionaires back then as opposed to over 600 billionaires today.
The Magic Christian is all about Guy Grand and his eccentric antics. But behind Guy's pranks and games is the power of staggering amounts of money. And ever since the industrial revolution back in the 19th century, there's no power in the USA that comes close to competing with the power of staggering amounts of money - just the mind-boggling thought of all those stacks of millions upon millions upon millions is enough to give one nosebleed.
Guy can easily get others to go along with his pranks since the vast majority in the US are forced to grind it out hours every day for years to earn enough to keep paying the rent. So if Guy Grand comes along and offers someone $6,000 ($70,000 in today's dollars) to eat a parking ticket, that someone will gladly start chewing.
Again, The Magic Christian features a hilarious string of farcical pranks, spoofs, antics and gags complements of billionaire Guy Grand who inherited most of his money (in other words, although he speaks like your typical crusty fifty-something businessman, Guy began his financial career sitting atop many millions).
Frequently Guy plays with America's sacred cows - for example, he arranges to have two heavyweight boxers prance around and fight as if they're hypersensitive queens; he fixes things so a black panther (or, maybe it's a dyed jaguar) enters a Madison Square Garden dog show disguised as a poodle only to mangle the prize Pekinese and other precious pooches; he doctors Hollywood films to shock and confuse audiences. Guy's list goes on and on but one thing is certain: Guy Grand always achieves what he sets out to achieve, although, in the end, Guy must pay big bucks to clear his good name.
What infuses this Terry
Southern's novel with depth and a disturbing profundity is the way
American-style capitalism relates to the Christian religion. According
to certain Christian theologies, one's material prosperity is a direct
reflection of God's grace. Viewed in this way, Guy Grand is a man
chosen.
Oh, yes, it matters little if Guy Grand acts like a bloated buffoon or sadistic prankster - with all those millions, he's to be worshiped.
And here we are at the end of 2021 with over 600 billionaires in the US, nearly all spared the noisome burden of paying taxes. After all, that's the way God would want it.
Terry Southern's scathing satire continues to speak to us with undeniable power.
American author Terry Southern, 1924-1995
Oh, yes, it matters little if Guy Grand acts like a bloated buffoon or sadistic prankster - with all those millions, he's to be worshiped.
And here we are at the end of 2021 with over 600 billionaires in the US, nearly all spared the noisome burden of paying taxes. After all, that's the way God would want it.
Terry Southern's scathing satire continues to speak to us with undeniable power.
American author Terry Southern, 1924-1995
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