American Narrative Realism

Realism has been disparaged for over a hundred years as an outmoded form, and, more recently, as a pernicious illusion, typical of nineteenth-century novels and Hollywood movies alike. After a long period of disrepute, realism has had in recent years something of a revival among critics and theorists. Yet this revival still represents a minority, and much of the old critique of realism remains taken for granted. This book treats realism as a persistent aspect of narrative in American culture, especially after World War II. It does not seek to elevate realism above other forms of fictional narrative - that is, to restore it to some real or imagined past supremacy. Rather, the goal is to reclaim realism as a narrative practice that has remained vital despite a long history of critical disapproval, by showing how it functions in significant recent works across media.

Author: David R. Shumway
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 12/04/2025
Series: Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture #199
Pages: 194
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.56d
ISBN: 9781009660099