Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction

Description:

What happens to American fiction in a time when villains are deprived of their villainy; when our consumer culture relentlessly insists on happy endings? In *Burning Down the House*, Baxter delves into the dramatic way that social and political circumstances influence the “urgent issues of storytelling.” Did Richard Nixon start a trend of dysfunctional narration that is now rife throughout fiction? Why do we seem to have forgotten the true meaning of epiphany? *Burning Down the House* is Baxter’s first collection of nonfiction and proves he has an equally strong gift for the art of the essay.

subjects: American fiction,  History and criticism,  20th century,  American fiction, history and criticism, 20th century,  New York Times reviewed,  American fiction--history and criticism,  American fiction--20th century--history and criticism,  Ps379 .b37 2008,  Ps379 .b37 1997,  813/.509,  Fiction, history and criticism

Times: 20th century