Louise Brooks twice referenced in new Thomas Pynchon novel, Shadow Ticket

Louise Brooks is referenced twice in the new Thomas Pynchon novel, Shadow Ticket (Penguin Press). This latest novel from the bestselling author of Gravity's Rainbow, The Crying of Lot 49, Vineland, and Inherent Vice has been described by the Washington Post as “Bonkers and brilliant fun.” The Los Angeles Times called it “Late Pynchon at his finest. Dark as a vampire’s pocket, light-fingered as a jewel thief, Shadow Ticket capers across the page with breezy, baggy-pants assurance — and then pauses on its way down the fire escape just long enough to crack your heart open.”

Set in 1932, the book follows the adventures of "Hicks McTaggart, a onetime strikebreaker turned private eye, [who] thinks he’s found job security until he gets sent out on what should be a routine case, locating and bringing back the heiress of a Wisconsin cheese fortune who’s taken a mind to go wandering. Before he knows it, he’s been shanghaied onto a transoceanic liner, ending up eventually in Hungary where there’s no shoreline, a language from some other planet, and enough pastry to see any cop well into retirement—and of course no sign of the runaway heiress he’s supposed to be chasing. By the time Hicks catches up with her he will find himself also entangled with Nazis, Soviet agents, British counterspies, swing musicians, practitioners of the paranormal, outlaw motorcyclists, and the troubles that come with each of them, none of which Hicks is qualified, forget about being paid, to deal with. Surrounded by history he has no grasp on and can’t see his way around in or out of, the only bright side for Hicks is it’s the dawn of the Big Band Era and as it happens he’s a pretty good dancer. Whether this will be enough to allow him somehow to Lindy-hop his way back again to Milwaukee and the normal world, which may no longer exist, is another question."

In chapter one, Hicks mentions what he likes in a woman, "A dame with some moxie instead of one more baby-talking lulu." And then a little later on, in chapter three, Hicks is talking with a woman named April who "has this habit of unexpectedly squeaking into a high-pitched flapper voice" -- something which Hicks doesn't care for. "Baby-vamp vocalizing" doesn't work on him, let alone appeal to him, and Hicks suggests a different approach. “Well, let’s see, you could do Louise Brooks, or Clara Bow—” (first reference)

April responds, “They’re from back before the talkies. Silent.” 

To which Hicks humorously replies, “That’s the word I’m tryin to think of—”

Later on, Hicks is speaking with a woman named Daphne about her gentlemen friend. “Yes and while we’re on the subject, you’re sure, Daphne, now, about your—about, um, that Hop Wingdale? who could come strolling in here any minute—you’re sure he don’t mind that we…”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but we have a free and forgiving arrangement, yes many’s the time I’ve come upon him in the sweaty clutches of some Swing Girl barely into her teens, Louise Brooks hairdo, nighttime makeup in the daylight hours and all.....” (second reference)

Besides Louise Brooks and Clara Bow -- for those early film buffs keeping track -- there are also references to other late Twenties and early Thirties stars such as Harold Lloyd, Fred Astaire, Bela Lugosi, W.C. Fields, William Powell, James Cagney, Greta Garbo, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and the wonderful Joan Blondell. And also Charlie Chaplin. Hicks is at dinner, and the subject of Adolph Hitler comes up... "footage that will make him look crazy or comical, funny little guy, funny walk, funny mustache, German Charlie Chaplin, how serious could he be?" This quip is prophetic, as Chaplin would use parody the Nazi leader.in his 1940 film The Great Dictator.

And there are references to musicians such as Cab Calloway and even Lud Gluskin, whose Detroit dance band was once stranded in Paris.. 

Louise Brooks admires a bust of Dante, circa 1931

For more on this sort of thing -- whether in fiction, poetry, art, music, etc..., be sure and check out "Homage to Lulu" on the Louise Brooks Society website.
 

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original content copyright © 2025. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.