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Retroland
A Reader's Guide to the Dazzling Diversity of Modern Fiction
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Retroland
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See moreThe essential companion for lovers of the contemporary novel
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Description
The essential companion for lovers of the contemporary novel
Over the past fifty years, fiction in English has never looked more various. Books bulkier than Victorian three-deckers appear alongside works of minimalist brevity, and experiments with form have produced everything from verse novels to Twitter-thread narratives. This is truly a golden age.
But what unites this kaleidoscopic array of genres and styles?
Celebrated writer and critic Peter Kemp shows how modern writers are obsessed with the past. In a series of engaging and illuminating chapters, Retroland traces this novelistic preoccupation with history, from the imperial and the political to the personal and the literary.
Featuring famous names from across the United Kingdom, United States, and the wider Anglophone world, ranging from Salman Rushdie to Sarah Waters, Toni Morrison to Hilary Mantel, this is a work of remarkable synthesis and clarity—a wonderfully readable and enjoyably opinionated guide to our current literary landscape.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Reviews of Retroland by Peter Kemp suggest it's an engaging and informative exploration of modern English-language fiction. Critics praise Kemp's exhaustive knowledge and insight into the literary landscape, noting his ability to introduce readers to a plethora of authors and books, sparking a desire to read more. The work is described as both exhilarating and enjoyable, blending entertainment with deep literary analysis.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300269628
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 11 July 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 384
Collections
About the Author
Peter Kemp is chief fiction reviewer for the Sunday Times. He is the author of books on Muriel Spark and H. G. Wells, editor of The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Quotations, and associate editor of The Oxford Companion to English Literature.
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