Sanity Plea: Schizophrenia in the Novels of Kurt Vonnegut

by Lawrence R. Broer

    In this revised edition of a volume originally published in 1989, Lawrence Broer extends his comprehensive critique of the body of writing by Kurt Vonnegut. Broer offers a broad psychoanalytic study of Vonnegut’s works from Player Piano to Hocus Pocus , taking a decisively new approach to the work of one of America’s most important, yet often misinterpreted writers. A compelling and original analysis, Sanity Plea , explores how Vonnegut incorporates his personal experiences into an art that is not defeatist, but rather creatively therapeutic and life-affirming.

Genres: Nonfiction

257 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 1994

About the author

Lawrence R. Broer is a professor emeritus of English at the University of South Florida and the author or editor of eight previous books, including Sanity Plea: Schizophrenia in
the Novels of Kurt Vonnegut and Hemingway's Spanish Tragedy.

Reviews

[Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of interesting things to say about Vonnegut's works. I appreciated that Broer doesn't read his books as defeatist (I've never got that impression from Vonnegut). And Broer pulls out a lot of thought-provoking insights from each novel. I thought that the analysis got stronger as we moved through the novels, with all the post-Breakfast of Champions chapters being my favorites.

An interesting companion to my re-read of all 14 Vonnegut novels.

[Kenofthesea]

seriously? all of his books are a cry for help. i must read this.

[Amyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"One of the most interesting readings of Vonnegut's novels I have ever come across. A thought provoking book. It offers a defamiliarizing insight into the novels' world quite similar to Vonnegut's own literary sipirit!!! Loved it!"