Reaganism, Thatcherism and the social novel

Resource Information

The work Reaganism, Thatcherism and the social novel represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Reaganism, Thatcherism and the social novel

Statement of responsibility

Colin Hutchinson

Creator

• Hutchinson, Colin, 1958-

Subject

• English fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
• Political fiction, American -- History and criticism
• Political fiction, English -- History and criticism
• Politics and literature -- Great Britain -- History -- 20th century
• American fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
• Reagan, Ronald -- Influence
• Right and left (Political science) in literature
• Social problems in literature
• Thatcher, Margaret -- Influence
• Politics and literature -- United States -- History -- 20th century

Language

eng

Summary

"Reagan and Thatcher changed everything - even fiction, which is often seen as a bastion of left-liberal thought. This insightful book examines the work of both British and American authors over the last 25 years in order to assess the state of both nations - and their novels - in the context of a triumphant market economy. By looking at writers as diverse as Thomas Pynchon and Martin Amis, Jonathan Franzen and Irvine Welsh, Iain Banks and Douglas Coupland, it scrutinizes the position of the white male protaganist who feels besieged by both sides of the 'culture wars'. Themes of defeat, decline and destruction abound, with the search for redemption hampered by the suspicion that the idea of personal liberation is now the property of consumerism, and the communitarian ethos carries too much conservative baggage. The author concludes that consensus, rather than rebellion, is what shapes the form and content of the social novel in our time."--Jacket

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

823/.9109358

Index

index present

LC call number

PR888.P6

LC item number

H87 2008

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography