Does anyone remember a story called Flowers for Algernon?
I read it when I was a teenager and I recall it really affecting me at the time.
If I remember rightly its about a a mouse called Algernon who is given a brain-enhancing drug. This runs alongside the same happening to a human, Lawnmower Man-style, who befriends Algernon.
The flowers in the title are for the mouse.
Flowers for Algernon was one of those adult novels which morphed into essential reading for geeky sensitive teens like me in the early 1970's along with Plague Dogs, Doctor Rat, The Stonor Eagles and many more. I had quite a collection of these animal fables back then.
Did you read Algernon? It may have even been made into a film too.
I do, the film version was named Charly, if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I've seen the flim. Was Charly the name of the man?
DeleteYes, the film Charly is on YouTube, as is a later version.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy. I will give it a whirl.
DeleteIt was required reading at university, a great read.
ReplyDeleteThe only other Algernon I know of is Algernon Blackwood, the horror author and anthologist. My big bro got a thick hardback book in the Sixties for Xmas one year, a a creepy green cover. It was a supernatural collection by Algernon Blackwood.
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