The victim by Saul bellow

 This book is the story of Asa Leventhal. He is being stalked by an old acquaintance Albee and blamed for his misfortune. 

Leventhal’s wife is currently away. Also he has been attending to his sick nephew in the absence of his brother. But Albee keeps following him and attacking him verbally. 

Albee is in a very bad condition. He has been drinking for many years. His wife went away. Then she was killed in an accident . Albee didn’t even go for funeral fearing that his in-laws will blame him for her misfortunes. He is jobless. And he blames Leventhal for all these.

Many years ago, Leventhal was job hunting. And Albee referred him to a job in his own office. And Leventhal attended an interview in this office. When he realised, he will not be getting the job, he argued and fought with the interviewer - Albee’s boss Rudiger. What was he to do? As he asks a mutual friend  “Wipe the spit off his face and walk out quietly? “ 

This enraged Rudiger. He felt Albee has purposely insulted him through Leventhal. And he fired Albee. This started the downfall of Albee.

I am reminded of a kannada book by Yeshawant chittal Shikari- the hunted - where Nagappa is being victimised by his colleagues, his relatives and everyone - or he thinks so. Similar to Leventhal, Nagappa is introvert, sentimental and easily hurt. And is lonely.