A Wreck on the Road to Damascus: Innocence, Guilt and Conversion in Flannery O'Connor

by Brian Abel Ragen

A ground-breaking study of Flannery O'Connor and her place in American culture, A Wreck on the Road to Damascus weaves together high art and popular culture in a way that makes literary criticism exciting. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Brian Abel Ragen shows not just the depth of O'Connor's religious vision, but also the ferocity of her attack on the literary tradition that at once denied original sin—her favorite doctrine—and shoved women to the margins of American culture. His work will change the way readers think about Flannery O'Connor, automobiles, original sin, and American culture.

Genres: Literary Criticism

226 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1989

Reviews

[Jason Panella · Rating 3 out of 5]

The analysis of O'Connor's work is excellent, but the presentation was occasionally mind-numbing. I feel like this could've been half the length.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a couple of dozen interpretations etc. of Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood. And this was the best of the bunch. However does not explain the ending. Have to read a couple of articles by Ralph Wood for that.