The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is a novel by Canadian author Mordecai Richler. It was published in 1959 by André Deutsch, and adapted to the screen in 1974. Setting The satirical novel is set mostly in poor districts of Montreal, such as St. Urbain Street, with mention of wealthier districts, such as Westmount and Outremont. Parts of the story take place in the Laurentian Mountains in the resort town of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and surrounding areas. Plot The novel focuses on the young life of Duddy Kravitz, a poor Jewish boy raised in Montreal, Quebec. Family, friends, lovers and teachers all contribute to Duddy's burgeoning obsession with power and money — desires embodied in the possession of land. As a child, Duddy is told by his grandfather that "a man without land is nobody," and Duddy comes to believe land ownership to be life's ultimate goal and the means by which a man becomes a somebody. Duddy begins to move towards this goal by working for his Uncle Benjy. Their relationship is strained: Uncle Benjy, a wealthy clothing manufacturer with socialist sympathies, has always favored Duddy's brother Lennie, who wants to become a doctor. Uncle Benjy takes a dim view of Duddy's commercial ambitions, seeing them as avaricious and crass. During the summer after high school, Duddy takes a job as a waiter at a hotel in Ste. Agathe. He stumbles upon a beautiful and secluded lake while out with his soon-to-be lover and "Girl Friday", Yvette. A born entrepreneur, Duddy immediately sees that the lake has tremendous potential as a summer resort.