Richard Price’s Ladies’ Man: Precursor to the Modern Man-Child

Some spoilers ahead, but I try to keep it to more of a philosophical discussion than a detailed analysis of plot.

At one point I became so frustrated with Kenny Becker, the main character of Richard Price’s Ladies Man, that I actually yelled at the book. I’m not exaggerating this for dramatic or comedic effect — sitting at home all by myself, reading a book published forty years ago, I actually yelled at a fictional character, “Come on, man, get your shit together!”

I believe it was the first time I’ve ever yelled at a book. I can’t be certain of that claim, whoever.

My irrational reaction was a testament to the remarkable talent of Richard Price.

From the moment he published his first novel, The Wanderers, Price has been praised for his talent for writing dialogue. His prowess is so great in that area, in fact, that many of his other skills are often overlooked, including his ability to open up his character’s minds to us. It’s a talent that is put on display in Ladies Man perhaps more than any of his other works.

The convoluted and contradictory internal world of “ladies’ man” Kenny Becker is illustrated masterfully as this poor fellow navigates the New York City of the 1970s. It’s sometimes frustrating, sometimes hilarious, and…