The Cambridge Companion to the Twentieth-Century American Novel and Politics

This book explores the relationship between American politics and the twentieth-century novel, analyzing how political movements, ideas, and events shaped the American novel and how those political phenomena were shaped in turn by long-form prose fiction. It consists of three major sections: philosophical ideologies and broad political movements, the evolving political valences of popular genres and literary forms, and ten diverse politically-minded novels as case studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Surveying the intricate interplay between American politics and the twentieth-century novel, this comprehensive volume delves into the profound ways in which political movements, ideas, and events have shaped the American literary landscape. It also explores the reciprocal influence of long-form prose fiction on political phenomena, unveiling the intricate dance between these two realms. Comprising three substantial sections, the book offers a rich tapestry of insights. The first section delves into philosophical ideologies and broad political movements that exerted a profound impact on the United States in the twentieth century, encompassing progressive liberalism, conservatism, socialism and communism, feminism, and Black liberation movements. The second section examines the shifting political resonances of key popular genres and literary forms within the American novel, focusing on crime fiction, science fiction, postmodern metafiction, and immigrant fiction. The third section presents a selection of ten diverse novels that serve as exemplary case studies spanning the entire century, providing a deep exploration of the political dimensions of twentieth-century American fiction. By seamlessly blending detailed literary analysis with cutting-edge political theory, this Companion offers a groundbreaking examination of the politics of twentieth-century American fiction, shedding new light on the complex and ever-evolving relationship between these two vital spheres.

Weight: 684g
ISBN-13: 9781316516485