How it is By Samuel Beckett

How It Is (originally Comment c'est in French) is one of Samuel Beckett's most challenging and innovative works, first published in 1961. The novel abandons traditional narrative forms and embraces a fragmented, minimalist structure to explore the human condition in its rawest, most primal state. The protagonist narrates his journey through a barren, mud-filled landscape, describing his experiences in a disjointed, stream-of-consciousness style. This unnamed figure crawls through the mud, carrying a sack, encountering another being, Pim, with whom he forms a complex relationship based on dominance, dependency, and mutual suffering.

The novel is divided into three parts—before Pim, with Pim, and after Pim—symbolizing the cyclical, repetitive nature of existence. Through sparse language and fractured syntax, Beckett meditates on themes of isolation, the search for meaning, and the absurdity of life. How It Is challenges the reader with its relentless bleakness and uncompromising style, making it a cornerstone of Beckett's literary legacy.

Why Read This Book?

• A profound exploration of existential despair, human endurance, and the nature of memory and identity.
• Beckett's masterful use of experimental language and structure, offering a unique literary experience.
• Reflects the author's deep philosophical engagement with absurdism and the limitations of communication.
• A vital work for those interested in avant-garde literature and the evolution of modernist writing.

About the Author

Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) was a towering figure in 20th-century literature, known for his groundbreaking plays, prose, and poetry. Born in Ireland, Beckett wrote extensively in both English and French, creating works that explore themes of existentialism, absurdity, and the human condition. His minimalist style and innovative narrative techniques have had a profound influence on contemporary literature. Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969, cementing his place as one of the most important literary voices of the modern era. His works, including Waiting for Godot, Endgame, and How It Is, continue to captivate and challenge readers worldwide.