The Social Construction of American RealismKaplan redefines American realism as a genre more engaged with a society in flux than with one merely reflective of the status quo. She reads realistic narrative as a symbolic act of imagining and controlling the social upheavals of early modern capitalism, particularly class conflict and the development of mass culture. Brilliant analyses of works by Howells, Wharton, and Dreiser illuminate the narrative process by which realism constructs a social world of conflict and change. "[Kaplan] offers some enthralling readings of major novels by Howells, Wharton, and Dreiser. It is a book which should be read by anyone interested in the American novel."—Tony Tanner, Modern Language Review "Kaplan has made an important contribution to our understanding of American realism. This is a book that deserves wide attention."—June Howard, American Literature |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
1 The Massmediated Realism of William Dean Howells | 15 |
2 The Unreal City in A Hazard of New Fortunes | 44 |
3 Edith Whartons Profession of Authorship | 65 |
4 Crowded Spaces in The House of Mirth | 88 |
Common terms and phrases
advertising Alfred Kazin Amateur Laborer American Realism apprenticeship artist audience authorship becomes career Carrie's character cited parenthetically common conflict conspicuous consumption construct consumption contrast conventions critics crowd desire domestic drawing room Dryfoos Edith Wharton editor Editor's Study Eliot Ev'ry Month foreground Fulkerson gaping mob genius genteel Harper's Monthly Hazard House of Mirth Hubbard Hurstwood identity interior interview journalism journalist lady of leisure Lily Lily's Lindau literary literature magazine Marches mass culture middle-class Modern Instance moral narrative narrator newspaper novelist Pizer political popular production professional R. W. B. Lewis readers realistic novels reality realm relation representation represents role romance scene Selden sense sentimental Silas Lapham Sister Carrie society sphere story streets strike success tableaux vivants theater Theodore Dreiser threatening tion tradition treated turn University Press unreal upper-class urban William Dean Howells women writing York