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Article: The way we live now; Lexington.(The perils of literary realism)(Critical essay)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- April 15, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The perils of literary realism in the United States
FOR years, Tom Wolfe has been lambasting America's literary establishment for ignoring the best story around--their own country. America positively pullulates with fantastic stories. And yet its writers, ensconced in their Manhattan lofts and writer-in-residence residences, can't be bothered to look further than the ends of their noses. "At this weak, pale, tabescent moment in the history of American literature," Mr Wolfe wrote in one of his manifestos on behalf of literary realism, "we need a battalion, a brigade, of Zolas to head out into this wild, bizarre, unpredictable, hog-stomping, Baroque country of ours ...