Synopses & Reviews
This ambitious literary history traces the American novel from its emergence in the late eighteenth century to its diverse incarnations in the multi-ethnic, multi-media culture of the present day. In a set of original essays by renowned scholars from all over the world, the volume extends important critical debates and frames new ones. Offering new views of American classics, it also breaks new ground to show the role of popular genres such as science fiction and mystery novels in the creation of the literary tradition. One of the original features of this book is the dialogue between the essays, highlighting cross-currents between authors and their works as well as across historical periods. While offering a narrative of the development of the genre, the History reflects the multiple methodologies that have informed readings of the American novel and will change the way scholars and readers think about American literary history.
Synopsis
This state-of-the-art literary history of the American novel, from the late eighteenth century to the modern day, presents original essays by renowned scholars from all over the world. Together they form a chronological narrative offering updated views on classics while also introducing new views, new categories, and a new format.
Synopsis
An authoritative and lively account of the development of the genre, by leading experts in the field.
Benjamin Reiss on PowellsBooks.Blog
When you think about history, you probably picture scenes of people doing things while they’re awake: fighting wars, staging protests, electing presidents, making scientific discoveries, inventing machines, writing novels, traveling to the moon, and so on. But what if we considered our past from the point of view of the sleeping bodies that perversely demand that all this...
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