An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction
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

1116761239
An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction
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

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An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction

An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction

by Alan Bilton
An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction

An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction

by Alan Bilton

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Overview

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


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780814799123
Publisher: New York University Press
Publication date: 03/01/2003
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.80(d)

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.

Table of Contents

Preface; A Short Glossary of Critical Terms; A Short Glossary of Literary Terms; Introduction; Postmodernism and Contemporary Fiction: An Introductory Bibliography; 1. Don DeLillo; Don DeLillo Biography; DeLillo on DeLillo; Links to other authors; Reading early DeLillo; Don DeLillo Bibliography; 2. Paul Auster; Paul Auster Biography; Auster on Auster; Links to other authors; Paul Auster Bibliography; 3. Cormac McCarthy; Cormac McCarthy Biography; Approaches to Cormac McCarthy; Links to other authors; Cormac McCarthy Bibliography; 4. Rolando Hinojosa; Rolando Hinojosa Biography; Links to other authors; Reading The Klail City Death Trip series; Rolando Hinojosa Bibliography; 5. E. Annie Proulx; E. Annie Proulx Biography; Proulx on Proulx; Links to other authors; E. Annie Proulx Bibliography; 6. Bret Easton Ellis; Bret Easton Ellis Biography; Ellis on Ellis; Links to other authors; Bret Easton Ellis Bibliography; 7. Douglas Coupland; Douglas Coupland Biography; Couplandisms; Links to other authors; Douglas Coupland Bibliography; Conclusion: Thomas Pynchon's Mason and Dixon; Thematic Index; Author Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A welcome addition to the often-bloated scholarship on literary postmodernism. . . . Bilton's command of the fiction and scholarship is impressive."

-Choice,

"Bilton offers a critical but accessible introduction to postmodernism in America, surveying the selected works of eight contemporary writers. . . . This is an intriguing if eclectic mix of authors."

-Library Journal

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