Postwar American Fiction and the Rise of Modern Conservatism: A Literary History, 1945-2008

Bryan M. Santin explores the intersection of American fiction and postwar conservatism, arguing that contemporary perceptions of literary form and aesthetic value are linked to the rise of the American Right. He shows how conservative notions of literary value and prestige shifted to celebrate neo-aristocratic manifestations of cultural capital while condemning newer, more progressive manifestations revolving around racial and ethnic diversity. This shift registered and mediated the deeper foundational antinomy structuring postwar conservatism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Bryan M. Santin delves into a comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between American fiction and postwar conservatism, spanning over half a century. Through meticulous analysis, he traces the evolution of racial politics within the movement, contending that contemporary perceptions of literary form and aesthetic value are intricately linked to the rise of the American Right. Santin challenges the conventional portrayal of postwar conservatives as mere cynical opportunists or ideological zealots, instead revealing a profound shift in their rhetorical perspective on literary value and prestige. This shift, he argues, unveils an aesthetic tension between high culture and low culture, which serves as a lens through which to understand the deeper foundational antinomy structuring postwar conservatism. Santin demonstrates how postwar conservatives created a contradictory discourse of conservative literary taste, oscillating between celebrating neo-aristocratic manifestations of cultural capital and condemning newer, more progressive manifestations centered around racial and ethnic diversity. This nuanced approach reflects the complex interplay between traditionalist values and the desire for creative destruction within the framework of free-market capitalism. By exploring this dynamic, Santin offers a fresh perspective on the complex tapestry of American politics and culture during the postwar era.

ISBN-13: 9781108932202