NOVELS OF THE CONTEMPORARY EXTREME; ED. BY ALAIN-PHILIPPE DURAND

This book investigates a new form of fiction that is currently emerging in contemporary literature across the globe. ‘Novels of the contemporary extreme’ - from North and South America, from Europe, and the Middle East - are set in a world both similar to and different from our own: a hyper real, often apocalyptic world progressively invaded by popular culture, permeated with technology and dominated by destruction. While their writing is commonly classified as ‘hip’ or ‘underground’ literature, authors of contemporary extreme novels have often been the center of public controversy and scandal; they, and their work, become international bestsellers. This collection of essays identifies and describes this international phenomenon, investigating the appeal of these novels’ styles and themes, the reasons behind their success, and the fierce debates they provoked. Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 9 List of Contributors......Page 10 Introduction......Page 15 Part I: The Americas......Page 21 1 “Right Here in Nowheres”: American Psycho and Violence’s Critique......Page 23 2 Telling Doubles and Literal-Minded Reading in Bret Easton Ellis’s Glamorama......Page 34 3 Posthumous Voice and Residual Presence in Don DeLillo’s The Body Artist......Page 45 4 A Post-Apocalyptic World: The Excremental, Abject Female Warriors of Josée Yvon......Page 55 5 On the Impossibility of Being Contemporary in Nelly Arcan’s Folle......Page 67 6 Media-Portrayed Violence in Alberto Fuguet’s Tinta roja......Page 78 Part II: Europe and the Middle East......Page 89 7 Sadomasochism, Castration and Rape: Richard Morgiève’s Nightmare Theater of Primal Scenes......Page 91 8 Dantec’s Inferno......Page 103 9 Michel Houellebecq: A Fin de Siècle for the Twentieth Century......Page 114 10 Beyond The Extreme: Frédéric Beigbeder’s Windows on the World......Page 123 11 Amélie Nothomb’s Dialectic of the Sublime and the Grotesque......Page 135 12 Violence Biting its Own Tail: Martin Amis’s Yellow Dog......Page 146 13 Beauty and Death as Simulacra in Ray Loriga’s Caídos del cielo and El hombre que inventó Manhattan......Page 157 14 Sex, Drugs and Violence in Lucía Etxebarria’s Amor, curiosidad, Prozac y dudas......Page 167 15 On Human Parts: Orly Castel-Bloom and the Israeli Extreme......Page 177 C......Page 189 H......Page 190 P......Page 191 Z......Page 192 Part I. The Americas. "Right here in nowheres": American psycho and violence's critique / Naomi Mandel Telling doubles and literal-minded reading in Bret Easton Ellis's Glamorama / Henrik Skov Nielsen Posthumous voice and residual presence in Don DeLillo's The body artist / Mikko Keskinen A post-apocalyptic world: the excremental, abject female warriors of Josée Yvon / Paula Ruth Gilbert with Colleen Lester On the impossibility of being contemporary in Nelly Arcan's Folle / Martine Delvaux Media-portrayed violence in Alberto Fuguet's Tinta roja / Jason Summers Part II. Europe and the Middle East. Sadomasochism, castration and rape: Richard Morgiève's nightmare theater of primal scenes / Ralph Schoolcraft Dantec's Inferno / Lawrence R. Schehr Michel Houellebecq: a fin de siècle for the twentieth century / Sabine van Wesemael Beyond the extreme: Frédéric Beigbeder's Windows on the world / Alain-Philippe Durand Amélie Nothomb's dialectic of the sublime and the grotesque / Martine Guyot-Bender Violence biting its own tail: Martin Amis's Yellow dog / Jean-Michel Ganteau Beauty and death as simulacra in Ray Loriga's Caídos del cielo and El hombre que inventó Manhattan / Kathryn Everly Sex, drugs and violence in Lucía Etxebarria's Amor, curiosidad, Prozac y dudas / Catherine Bourland Ross On human parts: Orly Castel-Bloom and the Israeli extreme / Adia Mendelson-Maoz.

this Book Investigates A New Form Of Fiction That Is Currently Emerging In Contemporary Literature Across The Globe. 'novels Of The Extreme' - From North And South America, From Europe, The Middle East And Asia - Are Set In A World Both Similar To And Different From Our Own: A Hyper-real, Often Apocalyptic World Progressively Invaded By Popular Culture, Permeated With Technology And Dominated By Destruction. While Their Writing Is Commonly Classified As 'hip' Or 'underground' Literature, Authors Of Contemporary Extreme Novels Have Often Been The Center Of Public Controversy And Scandal; They, And Their Work, Become International Bestsellers. This Collection Of Essays Indentifies And Describes This International Phenomenon, Investigating The Appeal Of These Novels' Styles And Themes, The Reason Behind Their Success, And The Fierce Debates They Provoked.

alain-philippe Durand Is Associate Professor Of French, Film Studies And Comparative Literature At The University Of Rhode Island.

naomi Mandel Is Assistant Professor In The Department Of English, University Of Rhode Island.

"This book investigates a new form of fiction that is currently emerging in contemporary literature across the globe. 'Novels of the contemporary extreme' - from North and South America, from Europe, the Middle East and Asia - are set in a world both similar to and different from our own: a hyper-real, often apocalyptic world progressively invaded by popular culture, permeated with technology and dominated by destruction. While their writing is commonly classified as 'hip' or 'underground' literature, authors of contemporary extreme novels have often been the center of public controversy and scandal; they, and their work, become international bestsellers. This collection of essays identifies and describes this international phenomenon, investigating the appeal of these novels' styles and themes, the reasons behind their success, and the fierce debates they provoked."--BOOK JACKET This book investigates a new form of fiction that is currently emerging in contemporary literature across the globe. 'Novels of the contemporary extreme' - from North and South America, from Europe, the Middle East and Asia - are set in a world both similar to and different from our own: a hyper real, often apocalyptic world progressively invaded by popular culture, permeated with technology and dominated by destruction. This collection of essays identifies and describes this international phenomenon, investigating the appeal of these novels' styles and themes, the reasons behind their success, and the fierce debates they provoked.