The Cambridge Companion to Thomas Pynchon

This essential Companion to Thomas Pynchon provides all the necessary tools to unlock the challenging fiction of this postmodern master.

Inger H. Dalsgaard (Edited by), Luc Herman (Edited by), Brian McHale (Edited by)

9780521769747, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 December 2011

212 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 1.5 cm, 0.47 kg

"Anyone interested in classic postmodern theory and and how it still defines the way innovative US fiction is read should read this book. --Ali Chetwynd, University of Michigan

The most celebrated American novelist of the past half-century, an indispensable figure of postmodernism worldwide, Thomas Pynchon notoriously challenges his readers. This Companion provides tools for meeting that challenge. Comprehensive, accessible, lively, up-to-date and reliable, it approaches Pynchon's fiction from various angles, calling on the expertise of an international roster of scholars at the cutting edge of Pynchon studies. Part I covers Pynchon's fiction novel-by-novel from the 1960s to the present, including such indisputable classics as The Crying of Lot 49 and Gravity's Rainbow. Part II zooms out to give a bird's-eye-view of Pynchon's novelistic practice across his entire career. Part III surveys major topics of Pynchon's fiction: history, politics, alterity ('otherness') and science and technology. Designed for students, scholars and fans alike, the Companion begins with a biography of the elusive author and ends with a coda on how to read Pynchon and a bibliography for further reading.

Introduction Inger H. Dalsgaard, Luc Herman and Brian McHale
Biographical note John M. Krafft
Part I. Canon: 1. Early Pynchon Luc Herman
2. The Crying of Lot 49 and other California novels Thomas Hill Schaub
3. Gravity's Rainbow Steven Weisenburger
4. Mason and Dixon Kathryn Hume
5. Against the Day Bernard Duyfhuizen
Part II. Poetics: 6. Pynchon in literary history David Cowart
7. Pynchon's postmodernism Brian McHale
8. Pynchon's intertexts David Seed
Part III. Issues: 9. History Amy J. Elias
10. Politics Jeff Baker
11. Alterity Deborah Madsen
12. Science and technology Inger H. Dalsgaard
Coda: how to read Pynchon Hanjo Berressem.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Literary studies: general [DSB]