Dripping dry : literature, politics, and water in the desert Southwest

Resource Information

The work Dripping dry : literature, politics, and water in the desert Southwest 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

Dripping dry : literature, politics, and water in the desert Southwest

Title remainder

literature, politics, and water in the desert Southwest

Statement of responsibility

David N. Cassuto

Creator

• Cassuto, David N., 1963-

Subject

• Authors, American -- Homes and haunts -- Southwest, New
• Criticism, interpretation, etc
• Deserts in literature
• Politics and literature -- Southwest, New
• Southwest, New -- In literature
• Southwest, New -- Politics and government
• Water -- Southwest, New
• Water in literature
• Water-supply -- Political aspects -- Southwest, New
• Water-supply -- Southwest, New
• American literature -- Southwest, New -- History and criticism

Genre

• Criticism, interpretation, etc

Language

eng

Summary

More than any other single characteristic, aridity defines the American West. Water scarcity and its biologically critical function have also molded the regional literature of the region. Using novels by Barbara Kingsolver, Edward Abbey, John Steinbeck and Mary Austin, Dripping Dry combines literary analysis with environmental criticism to demonstrate how the myths that have pervaded the regional literature of the West have interacted with the myths that have shaped water policy throughout the twentieth century. The four works selected (Animal Dreams, The Monkey Wrench Gang, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Ford) present a composite portrait of reclamation, which the author argues is one of the most important cultural and ecological phenomena in the nation's history. The tensions and contradictions presented by the novels underscore the compelling need for an ecocritique of the relationship between literature and politics. David N. Cassuto deciphers the myths of reclamation and restoration and presents a third alternative--sustainability--in their stead. The challenge is a large one, because of the size and complexity of the region and because nature continues to evolve and create itself, a process involving language, ideology, and the land. The book is designed to be an interdisciplinary contribution both to the emerging field of literature and the environment, as well as to environmental studies

Member of

• Studies in literature and science

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

810.9/358

Government publication

government publication of a state province territory dependency etc

Illustrations

• illustrations
• plates

Index

index present

LC call number

PS277

LC item number

.C37 2001

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Series statement

Studies in literature and science