by Alfred Kazin
First published 2000
Alfred Kazin takes on Theodore Dreiser's complex legacy in American letters. Kazin traces how critics have viewed the author of Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy over the decades. He examines the tension between Dreiser's acknowledged influence and the persistent criticism of his prose style. The book explores how Dreiser's naturalistic approach shaped modern American fiction despite ongoing debates about his literary merits. Kazin weighs the arguments for and against Dreiser's place in the canon. He considers how changing literary tastes have affected assessments of novels like Jennie Gerhardt and The Financier. The analysis reveals the ongoing struggle to measure Dreiser's true contribution to literature.
Genres: biography, fiction, literary-criticism, american-fiction, 20th-century, american, criticism, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: literary-analysis
Period: 20th-Century
Textbook Binding · Peter Smith Pub