The Twentieth-Century Novel: An Introduction

by R.B. Kershner

The only college-level survey of the twentieth-century novel, this very brief and inexpensive guide presents key historical background for, issues concerning, and critical approaches to the modern, post-modern, and contemporary novel.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Alok Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, finally, that can be used as the foundation for learning the 20th-century literature, the novels. Indian students do not get the study materials very easily when it comes to studying the modern, post-modern and contemporary fiction. It will prove to be a good book.

[Paul Hedeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I'd had this neat, lucid, smart, and judicious critical introduction to contemporary thinking in my Master's degree program. (Maybe I would have changed away from a field so suspicious of itself.) This small book would have very economically introduced me to the genre as well as to the controversies attending its study. Then, perhaps, I would have understood why being smart and clear were not enough and why--in these waning years of humanities study--having "correct consciousness" was so important. That is to say, Kershner's volume is not only a good introduction to studies of the novel, but also a survey of the contemporary controversies dominating reading and interpretation. While informative, I fear these controversies will lose more readers than win them. Indeed, now even to say "I love the novel" focuses upon the speaker the jaundiced eye of PC thinking and judgment. Although he doesn't mean to, Kershner shows you why.

[Peter Sukamto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read for people who read 20th century literature (who would have thought?)

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book to use as a general overview in theory; it's not too expensive and provides a very nice "history" of the modernist and postmodernist traditions, along with different modes of criticism.

Text does get a bit too far into listing dates, authors, and titles at times, when more of an in-depth description of ideas would be better.

It could also be broken down / organized in a more student-friendly way.

[Allison Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're an English major or if you plan on studying modern literature at any point than this book is enormously helpful. I've had these concepts explained repeatedly by professors, but this goes deeper with more clarity, good examples, and solid historical connections. It has the additional benefit of not being dry literary criticism. If I'd had this as a freshman my life would have been ten times easier.

[D. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our words change when we write and the first hundred years (1900-1999) were no exception. It's funny to think how we have impressionist painters and abstract sculptors when mere words can take us on the same kind of journey. This book is a great read and he is a great man.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this in my 20th Century Literature class in college (what a shocker!). If I remember correctly, my professor photocopied sections for us.

[Abbas]

thanks

[Birsel Aygül]

good writing