Understanding Stewart O'Nan / Heike Paul.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Paul, Heike, author.

Series:

Understanding contemporary American literature.

Understanding Contemporary American Literature

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

O'Nan, Stewart, 1961---Criticism and interpretation.

O'Nan, Stewart.

American literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (144 pages).

Place of Publication:

Columbia, South Carolina : The University of South Carolina Press, [2020]

Summary:

"Named as one of the best young American novelists by Granta in 1996, Stewart O'Nan has become known for his eye for detail and adept use of diverse literary genres. He is the author of sixteen novels, several books of nonfiction, a screenplay, and two short story collections, and his writings have been translated into many languages. And yet, despite his critical success and being a highly visible presence on the literary scene, O'Nan's work has received only limited scholarly attention. In Understanding Stewart O'Nan, Heike Paul, a scholar of American studies, presents the first comprehensive scholarly appraisal of O'Nan's works. Through close readings of O'Nan's novels and other works, Paul reveals what she considers the author's most profound literary invention--the everyday gothic--as well as his use of genre, American cultural mythologies, and literary care work (through his close attention to the everydayness of his characters' lives) to create a unique and dynamic literary style. The book opens with a brief biographical sketch and an analysis of O'Nan's early explorations of the everyday gothic, American mythology, and literary care work in his first novel, Snow Angels. In subsequent chapters, Paul tracks the development of these tropes through novels that she classifies as noir-western, gothic horror, prison novels, social realism, 'habits of the heart', and the Hollywood novel, as well as his short stories (including collaborations with Stephen King) and nonfiction. An original interview with the author concludes the book, providing readers with another essential layer of understanding Stewart O'Nan"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Front Matter

Table of Contents

SERIES EDITORS PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Understanding Stewart ONan

Noir-Western and Morality Play:

Gothic Horror and Everyday Gothic:

Inside/Outside:

Social Realism and the Myth of the Middle Class:

Habits of the Heart:

The Hollywood Novel Revisited:

Other Works

APPENDIX: / Stewart ONan

NOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781643361505

1643361503