toHaveBeenCall

"To Have Been Called" is a novel by American author Richard Yates, published in 1973. The book tells the story of Charity Royce, a unhappy and disillusioned housewife living in the 1960s. Married to a struggling automobile salesman, Charity is trapped in a loveless marriage with no escape from the monotony of suburban life.

The novel explores themes of alienation, loneliness, and the empty materialism of modern American life. Charity's experiences are contrasted with the pretentious, yet shallow, lives of her social circle. Through Charity's character, Yates critiques the societal expectations placed on women during this era, particularly the restrictions on their personal freedom and aspirations.

To Have Been Called is often associated with the Beat Generation and the literature that emerged in the 1950s. However, Yates' work was more characteristically associated with the New Wave movement in American literature. This work of fiction was seen as a defining aspect of the realistic and plain spoken prose of this literary movement.

Throughout the novel, Yates critiques the societal expectations placed on women during this era. He portrays a disenchanted and unsuccessful suburban household, exploiting the stretches of emptiness and the desperation of the American geographically.

The novel has gained a cult following over the years and has become a sympathetic review in literary circles.