IVIV (1) The American Novel and Its Tradition, a classic before Pynchon

[alice wellintown]

In M&G, Leo Marx praises Chase, but complains that Chase seeks only
consequences and not causes. p342  The cause Marx explores, that rapid
industrialization of the undeveloped nation. AtD  Of course, this is
the case of Germany, the late to industrialize nation, then humiliated
by the Great Wars treaty. Japan, the great catch-up phase too is a
parallel. And, the reason P seems so interested in these two nation
states and how they compare and contrast with America. Of course,
America, unlike Germany or Japan, is loaded with nature and her
bounty. America too, is loaded with Germans. Melville's Calvinism
...., as Chase notes the Puritan Darkness is clearly, if not a cause,
certainly not a consequence, but combine that New England Tradition
with Franklin and Enlightenment, contrast Franklin's happy journey
from Frugal Boston to prosperity in the City of Brotherly Love with
Brown's Romantic Hero come from the wilderness to the city and you
have far more than escapist fare. From Cooper & Brown to Fitzgerald
and back to Pynchon. To everything turn turn turn. Every Ahab on rails
loves a locomotive driving the workers in straight line, but circles
circles circles  (Tanner).

On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 1:32 PM, Dave Monroe<against.the.dave at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 9:01 AM, Mark Kohut<markekohut at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> The American Novel and Its Tradition
>> by Richard Chase
>
> I got it for a buck fifty + shipping.  Meanwhile, see, e.g., ...
>
> http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0907&msg=137558
>