Making the Team: The Cultural Work of Baseball Fiction (Sport and Society) - Softcover

Morris, Timothy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0252065972 ISBN 13: 9780252065972

Publisher: University of Illinois Press, 1997

Synopsis

Timothy Morris examines the cultural implications of baseball novels, focusing on the themes of assimilation, heterosexuality, language, and meritocracy, because they pose particularly problematic issues for America. 

Morris explores canonical works like The Natural and Bang the Drum Slowly but devotes equal attention to juvenile novels by John Tunis and other authors. Throughout, Morris considers how fictional characters have embodied the ideals of manliness, courage, competitiveness, athleticism, whiteness, and standard English--of "Americanness" in its many facets--for readers of different ages and in different eras. He also considers what distinguishes "high art" from a baseball novel or other genre story. As his analysis shows, drawing the line may be of vital concern for scholars and Americans at large.

About this title

About the Authors

Timothy Morris is a professor of English at the University of Texas at Arlington. He is the author of Becoming Canonical in American Poetry and You're Only Young Twice: Children's Literature and Film.

Timothy Morris teaches English at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0252065972
• ISBN 13: 9780252065972
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208