Understanding Kurt Vonnegut

by William Rodney Allen, Matthew J. Bruccoli (Editor)

Understanding Kurt Vonnegut is a critical analysis of Vonnegut s fiction as a point of entrance for students and general readers alike. In close readings of Vonnegut s novels, William Rodney Allen examines the distinctive stylistic, thematic, and formally innovative elements that earned Vonnegut (1922 2007) a mass following, especially among young readers, as well as critical respect among scholars.

Genres: Nonfiction

203 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 1991

About the author

American author and former Professor of English at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. He received his PhD from Duke University, and was a faculty member at LSMSA from the time the school first opened in 1983 until his retirement in 2011. He is married to Cindy Allen, a counselor at the school, and has two daughters, Emily and Claire, with her. He has many interests, which include and are not limited to playing guitar, reading, and cutting down Magnolia trees. He is also a Kurt Vonnegut fan and owns what is believed to be the last thing that Vonnegut wrote before his death in 2007, a postcard addressed to Allen.

Reviews

[Alan]

A valuable companion on my journey through Vonnegut's works.

[ephyjeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

No fiction is more autobiographical than Vonnegut's. We're talking about an author who never once pretended to conceal the fact that real life events, personal acquaintances, private misfortunes and triumphs directly influenced his work. Seeing it all neatly dissected and laid out on the table, complete with sidenotes and comments furnished by William Rodney Allen (another S.O.B. I'll forever envy for having known Kay personally), what can I say? This one was a marvelous read.