An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction - Hardcover

Bilton, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814799116 ISBN 13: 9780814799116

Publisher: New York University Press, 2003

Synopsis

Don DeLillo, Paul Auster, Cormac McCarthy, Rolando Hinojosa, E. Annie Proulx, Bret Easton Ellis, Douglas Coupland, and Thomas Pynchon: An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction introduces the work of a range of key American authors, all of whom can be said to engage with postmodernism. Exploring the vitality and energy of contemporary writing in light of pessimistic proclamations on the state of postmodern American culture, Bilton highlights the tension between "realistic" description and linguistic self-consciousness in contemporary fiction.

In addition, by addressing a central problem in literary theory—its neglect of literary discussion and the practice of reading—An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction is able to present a working model for reading a text theoretically.

As an introductory text, it assumes no prior knowledge of the authors of the novels discussed. To encourage understanding and aid further study, the following features are included:

* GLOSSARY OF CRITICAL AND LITERARY TERMS
* BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EACH AUTHOR'S WORKS
* BIOGRAPHY OF EACH AUTHOR
* GUIDE TO FURTHER READING
* THEMATIC AND AUTHOR INDICES

About this title

About the Author

Alan Bilton is Lecturer in American Studies at the University of Wales, Swansea, and editor of The American 1920s: Literary Sources and Documents.

Edition details

• Publisher: New York University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814799116
• ISBN 13: 9780814799116
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256