Find a copy in the library
Finding libraries that hold this item...
Details
| Additional Physical Format: | Online version: McCarthy, Desmond F., 1959- Reconstructing the family in contemporary American fiction. New York : P. Lang, c1997 (OCoLC)645892989 |
|---|---|
| Document Type: | Book |
| All Authors / Contributors: |
Desmond F McCarthy |
| ISBN: | 0820423068 9780820423067 |
| OCLC Number: | 31241125 |
| Description: | vi, 166 p. ; 24 cm. |
| Contents: | Reconstructing the family as a Utopian project -- The family in crisis -- Harry Angstrom's flights from the family -- The family according to Garp -- The emergent woman's family in The color purple -- America as family: E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime -- The reconstructed family and social change. |
| Series Title: | Studies on themes and motifs in literature, v. 6. |
| Responsibility: | Desmond F. McCarthy. |
Abstract:
The prevalence of alternative families in contemporary American fiction is significant given the concern and confusion precipitated by the decline in traditional nuclear families in recent decades. John Irving's The World According to Garp, Alice Walker's The Color Purple, and E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime contain compelling utopian depictions of alternative families that are more egalitarian than traditional nuclear families. John Updike's Rabbit, Run and Rabbit Redux are interesting counterpoints to the optimistic novels of Irving, Walker, and Doctorow. Although Updike depicts the traditional nuclear family as the site of considerable ennui and unhappiness, attempts to flee or reconstruct the family in his novels are staggeringly destructive.
Reviews
User-contributed reviews
Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers.
Be the first.
Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers.
Be the first.
Tags
Add tags for "Reconstructing the family in contemporary American fiction".
Be the first.
Similar Items
Related Subjects:(13)
- American fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism.
- Domestic fiction, American -- History and criticism.
- Families in literature.
- Familie.
- Letterkunde.
- Amerikaans.
- Roman américain -- 20e siècle -- Histoire et critique.
- Roman familial américain -- Histoire et critique.
- Famille dans la littérature.
- Famille -- Dans la littérature.
- Familie <Motiv>
- Literatur.
- USA.
