Faulkner and the Politics of Reading

Karl F. Zender's book, "Faulkner and the Politics of Reading," offers fresh readings of individual novels, themes, and motifs while assessing the impact of recent politicized interpretations on our understanding of Faulkner's achievement. It challenges older psychoanalytic interpretations of Faulkner's use of the incest motif, defends the novelist's difficulty or reticence as an aesthetic resistance against deregionalized and depersonalized culture, and explores the volatile issues of Faulkner's representations of women and African Americans. The elegiac final chapter explores Faulkner's disinclination to represent the quotidian realities of southern life in his later novels, showing that his stylistic withdrawal attempts to transform into beauty his alienation from the postwar world and his fear of aging.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2023
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press

Karl F. Zender's groundbreaking study delves into the rich tapestry of William Faulkner's novels, themes, and motifs, offering fresh perspectives while also assessing the impact of recent politicized interpretations on our understanding of his remarkable achievement. Recognizing the importance of decentering the canon, Zender's meticulous interrogation of contemporary theory creates a vital space for Faulkner and his readers, bridging the gap between the rigid remnants of New Criticism and the excesses of post-structuralism.

Each chapter in this comprehensive exploration begins with a balanced presentation of the genuine gifts that contemporary theory has bestowed upon our comprehension of a specific novel or thematic issue in Faulkner criticism. This is followed by a groundbreaking interpretation that pushes the boundaries of traditional readings.

In The Politics of Incest, Zender challenges older psychoanalytic interpretations of Faulkner's use of the incest motif, offering a fresh perspective that sheds light on the complex layers of meaning and symbolism embedded within his works. Similarly, in Faulkner's Privacy, Zender defends the novelist's deliberate difficulty or reticence as an aesthetic resistance against the crude candor of deregionalized and depersonalized culture.

Subsequent chapters delve into the volatile issues of Faulkner's representations of women and African Americans, employing a close reading approach to unravel the intricate nuances and complexities of his narratives. A critical analysis of the classic Barn Burning critiques the current tendency to blur the concepts of patriarchy and paternity, highlighting the nuanced ways in which Faulkner interrogates these societal constructs.

The elegiac final chapter, "Where is Yoknapatawpha County?" draws on a comparison with John Updike's Pennsylvania fiction and a reading of Joan Williams's The Wintering to explore Faulkner's disinclination to represent the quotidian realities of southern life in his later novels. Zender adeptly demonstrates that Faulkner's stylistic withdrawal attempts to transform into beauty his alienation from the postwar world and his fear of aging. Through this insightful analysis, Zender restores and revitalizes Faulkner's beauty, offering a profound appreciation of his artistic legacy.

In conclusion, Karl F. Zender's Faulkner and the Politics of Reading is a seminal work that offers a fresh and invigorating perspective on the master of Southern literature. Through his meticulous scholarship and insightful interpretations, Zender restores and revitalizes Faulkner's beauty, illuminating the enduring significance of his works in the broader context of contemporary literary discourse. This book will undoubtedly delight and inspire those who seek to deepen their understanding of Faulkner's extraordinary achievement.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807180440