This is part of a new series of guides to contemporary novels. The aim of the series is to give readers accessible and informative introductions to some of the most popular, most acclaimed and most influential novels of recent years - from 'The Remains of the Day' to 'White Teeth'. A team of contemporary fiction scholars from both sides of the Atlantic has been assembled to provide a thorough and readable analysis of each of the novels in question.
The book provides a comprehensive exploration of the works and career of a prominent postmodern American author known for influential novels such as White Noise and Underworld. It delves into the themes, styles, and cultural impact of his writing, highlighting his contributions to contemporary literature and the evolution of his narrative techniques. Through critical analysis, the overview sheds light on the author's unique voice and the significance of his work in the postmodern literary landscape.
Fabliaux, Fair and Foul, a collection of twenty tales in translation, represents one of the most important medieval genres, the amusing verse tale, which flourished in France from the twelfth through the early fourteenth centuries. Critics now position fabliaux at the center of medieval literature and their pertinence to social classes, parodic nature, joyful tone, their derision of pomposity as well as their self-mockery, place them as counterparts to other medieval masterpieces.The comprehensive introduction discusses the origin and history of the genre and the reasons for its immense popularity in the Middle Ages, the role of jongleurs in performance and composition, and messages inherent in the tales. The fabliaux are subtly humorous, frankly scatological, both common and courtly. Each tale is prefaced by a concise introduction. A substantial and useful bibliography completes the volume.