City Of Words: American Fiction, 1950-1970

by Tony Tanner

Offers a penetrating critical commentary on the works of twenty-five contemporary novelists including Barth, Mailer, Bellow, Heller, Updike and Malamud

Genres: Literary Criticism, Nonfiction, Reference

463 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Chriskerr Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Tanner's essay in the Alderman Library "new arrivals" cart and pounced on it before it disappeared into the stacks. His wonderful, loving survey of the revolutionaries of sixties fiction ratified so much of what I had enjoyed and encouraged me to read more authors with whom I was not familiar. His was the English course I wish I had encountered when I was a first year undergrad sinking to the bottom of the pool. Instead of required courses, I accelerated my departure from college w/ Pynchon, Bruce Jay Friedman, Borges and others I lucked upon. I would love tom re-read this. If anyone can suggest a contemporary essay in this spirit, I would be very grateful.

[Catherine Clinch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the finest books of literary criticism about a period in history that may be the most daring leap into new thinking by American writers. It was a strong influence in my early years as a writer.