A Dangerous Crossing: French Literary Existentialism and the Modern American Novel

by Richard Lehan, Harry Thornton Moore (Preface)

While there has been a great deal written about the influence of French existentialism on modern fiction, Le­han’s new book is strikingly different from other interpretations. With over twenty-five articles published on the topic, Lehan is an authority on the subject and an expert in American literature. He brings to this exciting new approach a knowledge and an awareness of the reciprocal influence of French philosophers and American novelists never before shown.   As he moves from Nietzsche’s super­man to Heller’s functionaries, Lehan presents the complete chronology as well as the full spectacle of literary existentialism. Exceptionally well writ­ten, his book is especially valuable for the clear perspective he thus provides.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Tom Walsh]

If you are a reader of Sartre, Camus, or Faulkner, and are familiar with their fiction efforts, this book is for you. The author investigates many of their novels in an existential light: movements into the worked of the absurd, the meaningless events of a life. He writes about this in an authoritative voice, and I nodded my head in agreement, pleasantly, many times. To me, it was a trip back to the pages of authors who who shook my life’s tree during my reading career. Five stars for the connection of ideas and world literature.