Pynchon and History: Metahistorical Rhetoric and Postmodern Narrative Form in the Novels of Thomas Pynchon (Studies in Major Literary Authors)

First Published in 2005. While many previous books on Pynchon allude to his fictional engagement with historical events and figures, this book explores Pynchon as a historical novelist and, by extension, historical thinker. The book interprets Pynchon's four major novels V., Gravity's Rainbow, Vineland, and Mason & Dixon through the prism of historical interpretation and representation. In doing so, it argues that Pynchon's innovative narrative techniques express his philosophy of history and historical representation through the form of his texts. While many previous books on Pynchon allude to his fictional engagement with historical events and figures, this book explores Pynchon as a historical novelist and, by extension, historical thinker. The book interprets Pynchon's four major novels V., Gravity's Rainbow, Vineland, and Mason & Dixon through the prism of historical interpretation and representation. In doing so, it argues that Pynchon's innovative narrative techniques express his philosophy of history and historical representation through the form of his texts. Pynchon and history: an overview Truth and falsity don't apply: V. and the historiographic method Gravity's Rainbow: wrecking the elegant rooms of history Simulated history: Vineland and postmodern America Westward the course of empire: Mason & Dixon and the rewriting of the American romance. Interpreting the works of Pynchon, this book presents fresh insights of the author as a historical novelist, as a well as a writer with complex ideas on both histriographic representation and how historical knowledge is developed and communicated. First Published In 2005. Routledge Is An Imprint Of Taylor & Francis, An Informa Company.