When it was initially published in 1939, John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" instantly became a bestseller. Like many phenomenally popular works, it has elicited a wide range of critical responses. Some earlier reviewers faulted Steinbeck for his apparent sentimentality, while others were disturbed by his portrait of heartless, greedy Americans. Others, too, criticized his aesthetics. His novel became an important part of the American curriculum, many readers praised his epic vision, and modern critics have tended to respond favorably to his works. But despite the publication of four...
When it was initially published in 1939, John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" instantly became a bestseller. Like many phenomenally popular works...
John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" (1939) is one of the most widely read American novels. Much has been written about the book, yet a number of recent critics have challenged its merits and questioned its place in the canon. The novel was published near the end of the Great Depression, yet its issues remain provocative and current, generating considerable critical debate. For all the novel's apparent simplicity, its deeper levels are often difficult to grasp, requiring distinct participatory demands on its readers. This reference is a comprehensive introduction to Steinbeck's...
John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" (1939) is one of the most widely read American novels. Much has been written about the book, yet a number of...
Celebrating the brief life of a young scholar dedicated to Steinbeck studies, this collection gathers essays from various vantage points including aesthetic, feminist, ethical, and comparative perspectives. Included in this volume are works by two acclaimed poets, as well as insightful readings of a little known early short story and an unsuccessful novel by Steinbeck.
Celebrating the brief life of a young scholar dedicated to Steinbeck studies, this collection gathers essays from various vantage points including aes...
From an Existential Vacuum to a Tragic Optimism: The Search for Meaning and the Presence of God in Modern Literature employs a new theoretical approach to critical analysis: Victor Frankl's logotherapy (from the Greek logos for word or reason and often related to divine wisdom), a unique form of existentialism. On the basis of his observations of the power of human endurance and transcendence - the discovery of meaning even in the midst of harrowing circumstances - Frankl diagnoses the malaise of the current age as an existential vacuum, a sense of meaninglessness. He suggests that a panacea...
From an Existential Vacuum to a Tragic Optimism: The Search for Meaning and the Presence of God in Modern Literature employs a new theoretical approac...
