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Marshall Boswell
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Understanding David Foster Wallace (Understanding Contemporary American Literature) Paperback – August 31, 2009

by Marshall Boswell (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 6 ratings
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Understanding David Foster Wallace guides readers through thoughtful examinations of Wallace's novels The Broom of the System and Infinite Jest and first two short story collections, Girl with Curious Hair and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. In his readings of these works, Marshall Boswell affirms that Wallace (1962-2008), in his fiction, compels our attention for the singular excellence of his work and his groundbreaking effort to chart a fruitful and affirmative new direction for literary fiction. In addition to providing self-contained readings of each text, Boswell places Wallace within a trajectory of literary innovation that begins with James Joyce and continues through John Barth and Thomas Pynchon. Boswell contends that in charting a new course for literary practice, Wallace did not seek merely to overturn postmodernism or simply to return to modernism. Instead he moved resolutely forward with his fiction hoisting the baggage of modernism and postmodernism heavily, but respectfully, on its back.
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  1. Print length
    244 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of South Carolina Press
  4. Publication date
    August 31, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.61 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781570038877
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570038877
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A valuable introduction to Wallace and his first four books. Boswell provides enlightening interpretations of much of the fiction, especially in his use of Wittgenstein in reading The Broom of the System and Lacan and Kierkegaard in reading Infinite Jest."―Review of Contemporary Fiction

From the Inside Flap

A detailed approach to the fiction of a pioneer in modernism's third wave

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1570038872
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of South Carolina Press (August 31, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781570038877
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570038877
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.61 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 6 ratings

About the author

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Marshall Boswell

Marshall Boswell

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Marshall Boswell is the author of the story collection, "Trouble with Girls" (Algonquin Books, 2003) and the novel "Alternative Atlanta" (Delacorte Press, 2005). Both books are currently available in paperback. His new novel is called "The Opinion Leader" and should be forthcoming soon.

In addition, Marshall has published two book-length scholarly monographs, " John Updike's Rabbit Tetralogy: Mastered Irony in Motion" (University of Missouri Press, 2001) and "Understanding David Foster Wallace" (University of South Carolina Press, 2004). He is also the co-editor of Volume IV of "The Encylcopedia of American Literature: 1946 to the Present" (Facts on File, 2008).

Marshall grew up in the Mid-South and received his B.A. from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA. He holds an M.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta. Since 1996 he as taught American Literature and Fiction Writing at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, where he is an Associate Professor. He is married and the father of three sons. His old band, Enormous Richard, once opened up for Alex Chilton and Uncle Tupelo. In fact, his band is "thanked" in the liner notes of Uncle Tupelo's first album, though he's pretty sure Jeff Tweedy couldn't pick him out in a police line-up. Incidentally, Marshall's never actually been in a police line-up.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
6 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Steven Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Price
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2004
Verified Purchase
Though priced for flush university libraries rather than for skint individuals, this is an intelligent critique of DFW's work to date. Following an introduction, there are separate chapters on each of the 4 fiction books (the essays are discussed only in passing), illuminating the philosophical and aesthetic concerns of each book in a clear style with minimal academic jargon. Even longtime Wallace fans will find the book enlightening, and first-time readers couldn't hope for a better introduction to one of the most important American writers of our time. Highly recommended.
63 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars While reading this book, I had dreams that I ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
While reading this book, I had dreams that I was trying to teach high school kids the difference between Modernism and Post Modernism, but I kept getting interrupted by various administrators and other teachers. Then, class was over before I'd had a chance to explain anything. Hmm.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Rob
4.0 out of 5 stars Useful
Reviewed in Italy on August 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
Exremely useful criticism by one of the most important scholar when talking about Wallace Studies. I bought this book while I was writing my final dissertation and found it very inspirational.
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