Other Fiction Norris, Frank: McTeague. v1. 06 Aug. 07

[Dr. Drib]

Another great Frank Norris novel, the one I studied as an undergraduate student majoring in English. I loved this book, but I haven't read it in quite awhile.

Here's something about the book, quoted:

"This book is realism thrice over. The first 'realism' is coventional. Norris in the vain of the French realists writes a novel exploring people with complete human imperfections. From the feeble-witted McTeague (Norris never gives us his first name) to his avaricious wife Trina, we are introduced to a cast of characters who fuction the way people do. And unlike today's 'realist' literature that tries to be shocking for shock value, Norris is nothing but sincere.

"The second 'realism' is Norris's refreshing 'fly on the wall' approach. Unlike fellow realists like Dreiser and Lewis, Norris does not judge his characters- never commenting or moralizing, just reporting. Through two murders, one rape fantasy and spousal abuse among other things, Norris simply tells it as it 'happens.'

"This is not Henry James, Edith Wharton or Harriet Stowe. It is a gritty tale set in 1890's San Francisco with an ending that will leave you in nothing less than shock. Before Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, there was Frank Norris and McTeague."

I hope you enjoy it.

Don

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[jmorton]

This is an amazing book. Unlike many other books from the period, this one reads like it was just written. It is written in a very frank and modern style. If you've never read and Frank Norris novel, this is a good place to start.

Jim