Willa Cather and the Politics of Criticism

In this brilliant, impassioned and controversial book, New Yorker critic Joan Acocella argues that twentieth-century literary critics from the Left and Right have misused Willa Cather and her works for their own political ends, and, in doing so, have either ignored or obscured her true literary achievement. In an acute and often very funny critique of the critics, Acocella untangles Cather's reputation from decades of politically motivated misreadings, and proposes her own clear-headed view of Cather's genius. At once a graceful summary of Cather's life and work, and a refreshing plea that books be read for themselves, Willa Cather and the Politics of Criticism will also inspire readers to return to one of America's great novelists.


Author: Joan Acocella
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 01/15/2002
Pages: 144
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.38lbs
Size: 8.02h x 5.24w x 0.43d
ISBN13: 9780375712951
ISBN10: 037571295X
BISAC Categories:
- Literary Criticism | American | General
- Literary Criticism | Women Authors
- Literary Criticism | Modern | 20th Century

About the Author
Joan Acocella is a New Yorker staff writer. Her books include Mark Morris and Creating Hysteria: Women and Multiple Personality Disorder. She lives in New York.