American Literature Readings in the 21st Century

Simmons, D.

Kurt Vonnegut's darkly comic work became a symbol for the counterculture of a generation. From his debut novel, Player Piano (1951) through seminal 1960's novels such as Cat's Cradle (1963) and Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) up to the recent success of A Man Without A Country (2005), Vonnegut's writing has remained commercially popular, offering a satirical yet optimistic outlook on modern life. Though many fellow writers admired Vonnegut - Gore Vidal famously suggesting that "Kurt was never dull" - the academic establishment has tended to retain a degree of scepticism concerning the validity of his work. This dynamic collection aims to re-evaluate Vonnegut's position as an integral part of the American post-war cannon of literature.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2011-12-07

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9780230120976

DOI: 10.1057/9780230100817

Dimensions: 216cm x140cm

Pages: 233