Appointment in Samarra, by John O'Hara

Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara is a 1934 novel that explores the life of a wealthy, self-destructive businessman. I read it because I saw it on a list of modern novels that might be appropriate for inclusion in an expanded Great Books program. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Appointment in Samarra 22nd on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. In 2011, the book was placed on Time Magazine's list of top 100 novels written in English since 1923.

from the back of the book:

When it was originally published in 1934, John O'Hara's first novel was widely praised -and widely condemned for its frank language and subject matter. Appointment in Samarra is the story of three days in the lives of Julian and Caroline English, the leading couple in the smart set of Gibbsville, Pennsylvania. Although Julian loves Caroline passionately, he drinks too much and becomes involved with other women -manifestations of his growing urge toward self-destruction.

You can read it online here or here. It begins,

OUR STORY opens in the mind of Luther L. (L for LeRoy) Fliegler, who is lying in his bed, not thinking of anything, but just aware of sounds, conscious of his own breathing, and sensitive to his own heartbeats. Lying beside him is his wife, lying on her right side and enjoying her sleep. She has earned her sleep, for it is Christmas morning, strictly speaking, and all the day before she has worked like a dog, cleaning the turkey and baking things, and, until a few hours ago, trimming the tree. The awful proximity of his heartbeats makes Luther Fliegler begin to want his wife a little, but Irma can say no when she is tired. It is too much trouble, she says when she is tired, and she won’t take any chances. Three children is enough; three children in ten years. So Luther Fliegler does not reach out for her. It is Christmas morning, and he will do her the favor of letting her enjoy her sleep; a favor which she will never know he did for her. And it is a favor, all right, because Irma likes Christmas too, and on this one morning she might not mind the trouble, might be willing to take a chance. Luther Fliegler more actively stifled the little temptation and thought the hell with it, and then turned and put his hands around his wife’s waist and caressed the little rubber tire of flesh across her diaphragm. She began to stir and then she opened her eyes and said: “My God, Lute, what are you doing?”
“Merry Christmas,” he said.
“Don’t, will you please?” she said, but she smiled happily and put her arms around his big back. “God. you’re crazy,” she said. “Oh, but I love you.” And for a little while Gibbsville knew no happier people than Luther Fliegler and his wife, Irma.

The New York Review of Books has an article. Kirkus Reviews has a review.