In many ways John Updike could be termed America's reigning WASP writer, Philip Roth the chief spokesman for the middle-class intellectual Jew. Although the two writers would seem to have little in common, George Searles' comparison of their works leads to startlingly fresh in sights not only into their writings but into contemporary culture as well. Aside from biographical coincidences and a shared preference for realism, Roth and Updike also treat the same themes: ethnicity, interpersonal relationships, individual moral ...
Read More
In many ways John Updike could be termed America's reigning WASP writer, Philip Roth the chief spokesman for the middle-class intellectual Jew. Although the two writers would seem to have little in common, George Searles' comparison of their works leads to startlingly fresh in sights not only into their writings but into contemporary culture as well. Aside from biographical coincidences and a shared preference for realism, Roth and Updike also treat the same themes: ethnicity, interpersonal relationships, individual moral responsibility and guilt, and a number of secondary issues--the pernicious effects of American material ism, the importance (and absence) of meaningful work, the diminished status of the modern clergy, and sport in con temporary life. Striking differences exist also: in Roth's work social commentary is pres ent, but the focus is on the individual, a cultural minority; Updike's antiheroes are in the cultural mainstream. Roth writes in the first person; Updike, in the omniscient third. In Roth setting is al most incidental; to Updike it is central. Roth's real setting is the landscape of the mind; Updike can almost be considered a regional writer.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. No dust jacket. Ex-library. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 197 p. Crosscurrents-Moderncritiques-New Se. Audience: General/trade. LCCN 84001269 Type of material Book Personal name Searles, George J. (George John), 1944-Main title The fiction of Philip Roth and John Updike / George J. Searles. Published/Created Carbondale [Ill. ]: Southern Illinois University Press, c1985. Description ix, 197 p.; 23 cm. ISBN 0809311755 LC classification PS379. S398 1985 LC Subjects Roth, Philip--Criticism and interpretation. Updike, John--Criticism and interpretation. American fiction--20th century--History and criticism. Notes Includes index. Bibliography: p. 183-189. Series Crosscurrents/modern critiques/new series Crosscurrents/modern critiques. New series. Dewey class no. 813/.54/09 Geographic area code n-us---
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good in Good jacket. AT4-Mylar protected dust jacket. Library card holder and sticker on front loose endpaper. Library stampings on title page and copyright page, back loose endpaper and top page edges. Library stickers on front cover, spine, and back cover. Body text is clean and nice. A comparative study of two of America's foremost novelists, Philip Roth and John Updike. George Searles gives careful, systematic examinations of the literary methods of both authors.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
1st edn 2nd printing. 8vo. Original gilt lettered blue cloth (VG), dustwrapper (VG in protective cover taped to endpapers). Pp. ix + 197 (ex academic library with usual stamps and markings).
