Post-War British Women Novelists and the Canon (Continuum Literary Studies)

With the increasing number of books on contemporary fiction, there is a need for a work that examines whom we value, and why. These questions lie at the heart of this book which, by focusing on four novelists, literary and popular, interrogates the canon over the last fifty years. The argument unfolds to demonstrate that academic trends increasingly control canonicity, as do the demands of genre, the increasing commercialisation of literature, and the power of the literary prize. Turner argues that literary excellence, demonstrated by style and imaginative power, is often missing in many works that have become modern classics and makes a case for the value of the 'universal' in literature. Written in a jargon-free style, with reference to many supporting writers, the book raises a number of significant cultural questions about the arts, fashions and literary reputations, of interest to readers in contemporary literary studies. This is a monograph analysing a number of modern British women writers and the way in which the canon of post-war British writing has been formed. With the increasing number of books on contemporary fiction, there is a need for a work that examines whom we value, and why. These questions lie at the heart of this book which, by focusing on four novelists, literary and popular, interrogates the canon over the last fifty years. The argument unfolds to demonstrate that academic trends increasingly control canonicity, as do the demands of genre, the increasing commercialisation of literature, and t A Monograph Analysing A Number Of Modern British Women Writers And The Way In Which The Canon Of Post-war British Writing Has Been Formed. It Argues That Literary Excellence, Demonstrated By Style And Imaginative Power, Is Often Missing In Many Works That Have Become Modern Classics And Makes A Case For The Value Of The 'universal' In Literature.--pub. Desc. 1 Theories Of The Canon -- 2 Iris Murdoch -- 3 Anita Brookner -- 4 Ruth Rendell -- 5 Emma Tennant. Nick Turner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [166]-186) And Index. A monograph that analyzes a number of modern British women writers and the way in which the canon of post-war British writing has been formed. It focuses on four novelists, literary and popular, and interrogates the canon over the years. It unfolds to demonstrate that academic trends increasingly control canonicity, as do the demands of genre. Contents Acknowledgements Introduction: The Field of Modern Women Writers 1. Theories of the Canon 2. Iris Murdoch 3. Anita Brookner 4. Ruth Rendell 5. Emma Tennant Conclusion: The Contemporary Scene Appendix Notes Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W