Southern writers at century's end

Abstract

As the essays here point out, Southern writing since 1975 reflects the confusion and violence that have characterized late-twentieth-century public culture. These essays consider the work of twenty-one Southern writers whose most significant fiction has appeared in the last quarter of this century. Many of the essays represent the first serious critical attention paid to these writers. By examining the work of writers ranging from John Grisham to Bobbie Ann Mason, from Alice Walker to Cormac McCarthy, from Clyde Edgerton to Anne Tyler, the contributors reveal the ways in which Southern fiction of the last twenty-five years differs from that which preceded it. In particular, these writers have explored a wider variety of settings and demonstrated a greater awareness of popular culture than earlier writers as they struggle with the human costs of rapid social change.