The Novel and the American Left : Critical Essays on Depression-Era Fiction

The first collection of critical essays to focus specifically on the fiction produced by American novelists of the Depression era, The Novel and the American Left contributes substantially to the newly emerging emphasis on twentieth-century American literary radicalism. Recent studies have recovered this body of work and redefined in historical and theoretical terms its vibrant contribution to American letters. Casey consolidates and expands this field of study by providing a more specific consideration of individual novels and novelists, many of which are reaching new contemporary audiences through reprints. The Novel and the American Left focuses exclusively on left-leaning fiction of the Depression era, lending visibility and increased critical validity to these works and showing the various ways in which they contributed not only to theorizations of the Left but also to debates about the content and form of American fiction. In theoretical terms, the collection as a whole contributes to the larger reconceptualization of American modernity currently under way. More pragmatically, individual essays suggest specific authors, texts, and approaches to teachers and scholars seeking to broaden and/or complicate more traditional "American modernism" syllabi and research agendas. The selected essays take up, among others, such "hard-core"" leftist writers as Mike Gold and Myra Page, who were associated with the Communist Party; the popular novels of James M. Cain and Kenneth Fearing, whose works were made into successful films; and critically acclaimed but nonetheless "lost" novelists such as Josephine Johnson, whose Now in November (Pulitzer Prize, 1936) anticipates and complicates the more popular agrarian mythos of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. This volume will be of interest not only to literary specialists but also to historians, social scientists, and those interested in American cultural studies. The Novel And The American Left Focuses Exclusively On Left-leaning Fiction Of The Depression Era, Lending Visibility And Increased Critical Validity To These Works And Showing The Various Ways In Which They Contributed Not Only To Theorizations Of The Left But Also To Debates About The Content And Form Of American Fiction. In Theoretical Terms, The Collection As A Whole Contributes To The Larger Reconceptualization Of American Modernity Currently Under Way. More Pragmatically, Individual Essays Suggest Specific Authors, Texts, And Approaches To Teachers And Scholars Seeking To Broaden And/or Complicate More Traditional 'american Modernism Syllabi And Research Agendas. The Selected Essays Take Up, Among Others, Such Hard-core Leftist Writers As Mike Gold And Myra Page, Who Were Associated With The Communist Party; The Popular Novels Of James M. Cain And Kenneth Fearing, Whose Works Were Made Into Successful Films; And Critically Acclaimed But Nonetheless Lost Novelists Such As Josephine Johnson, Whose Now In November (pulitzer Prize, 1936) Anticipates And Complicates The More Popular Agrarian Mythos Of Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath. This Volume Will Be Of Interest Not Only To Literary Specialists But Also To Historians, Social Scientists, And Students Of American Cultural Studies.--jacket. Introduction / Janet Galligani Casey -- Taking Tips And Losing Class / Donna M. Campbell --my Little Illegality / Joy Castro -- Shriveled Breasts And Dollar Signs / Angela Marie Smith -- Monstrous Modernism / Joseph Entin -- The Objectivity Of Nature In Josephine Herbst's Rope Of Gold / Caren Irr -- Agrarian Landscapes, The Depression, And Women's Progressive Fiction / Janet Galligani Casey -- The Avengers Of Christie Street / Lee Bernstein -- Smashing Cantatas And Looking Glass Pitchers / Lawrence Hanley -- Marching! Marching! And The Idea Of The Proletarian Novel / Jon-christian Suggs -- Time, Transmission, Autonomy / David Jenemann And Andrew Knighton. Edited By Janet Galligani Casey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [195]-210) And Index. The first collection of critical essays to focus specifically on the fiction produced by American novelists of the Depression era, The Novel and the American Left contributes substantially to the newly emerging emphasis on twentieth-century American literary radicalism. Recent studies have recovered this body of work and redefined in historical and theoretical terms its vibrant contribution to American letters. Casey consolidates and expands this field of study by providing a more specific consideration of individual novels and novelists, many of which are reaching new contemporary audiences through reprints. The Novel and the American Left focuses exclusively on left-leaning fiction of the Depression era, lending visibility and increased critical validity to these works and showing the various ways in which they contributed not only to theorizations of the Left but also to debates about the content and form of American fiction. In theoretical terms, the collection as a whole contributes to the larger reconceptualization of American modernity currently under way. More pragmatically, individual essays suggest specific authors, texts, and approaches to teachers and scholars seeking to broaden and/or complicate more traditional "American modernism" syllabi and research agendas. The selected essays take up, among others, such "hard-core"" leftist writers as Mike Gold and Myra Page, who were associated with the Communist Party; the popular novels of James M. Cain and Kenneth Fearing, whose works were made into successful films; and critically acclaimed but nonetheless "lost" novelists such as Josephine Johnson, whose Now in November (Pulitzer Prize, 1936) anticipates and complicates the more popular agrarian mythos of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath . This volume will be of interest not only to literary specialists but also to historians, social scientists, and those interested in American cultural studies. "The Novel and the American Left focuses exclusively on left-leaning fiction of the Depression era, lending visibility and increased critical validity to these works and showing the various ways in which they contributed not only to theorizations of the Left but also to debates about the content and form of American fiction. In theoretical terms, the collection as a whole contributes to the larger reconceptualization of American modernity currently under way. More pragmatically, individual essays suggest specific authors, texts, and approaches to teachers and scholars seeking to broaden and/or complicate more traditional "'American modernism" syllabi and research agendas." "The selected essays take up, among others, such "hard-core" leftist writers as Mike Gold and Myra Page, who were associated with the Communist Party; the popular novels of James M. Cain and Kenneth Fearing, whose works were made into successful films; and critically acclaimed but nonetheless "lost" novelists such as Josephine Johnson, whose Now in November (Pulitzer Prize, 1936) anticipates and complicates the more popular agrarian mythos of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath." "This volume will be of interest not only to literary specialists but also to historians, social scientists, and students of American cultural studies."--BOOK JACKET. 9781587294754-1......Page 1 9781587294754-2......Page 3 9781587294754-3......Page 5 9781587294754-4......Page 17 9781587294754-5......Page 32 9781587294754-6......Page 51 9781587294754-7......Page 77 9781587294754-8......Page 97 9781587294754-9......Page 112 9781587294754-10......Page 134 9781587294754-11......Page 148 9781587294754-12......Page 167 9781587294754-13......Page 188 9781587294754-14......Page 211 9781587294754-15......Page 225 9781587294754-16......Page 227 9781587294754-17......Page 229