A Modern Instance William Dean Howells 9781489580634 Books
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A Modern Instance William Dean Howells 9781489580634 Books
I had read William Dean Howells' A Hazard of New Fortunes, which has been described as his most ambitious novel. I was duly impressed by it at the time.He was one of the preeminent authors of his day but seems to have fallen into some obscurity, with only a handful of his writings still in print. Even though it was written in 1890, A Hazard of New Fortunes was eminently readable and a great pleasure in every way. Howells truly has the writer's gift.
Naturally I wanted to explore his writings further, so, I read his somewhat earlier work, A Modern Instance (1882).
The principal and supporting characters are exceedingly well drawn and seem like real people in every way, which seems to be one of Howells' strong points. An author of the realist school, at least at this point of his career, Howell's A Modern Instance seems thoroughly modern. However, unlike say the works of Theodore Dreiser, Howells steers clear of any kind of morbid obsession.
I won't go into the plot except to say that it is revealing of both rural and city life at the time. The denouement is highly original and unlike some books, whose endings can range from rushed to awkward, I found Howells' to be thoroughly satisfying.
I must say that without a doubt A Modern Instance serves to cement my opinion of Howells as one of the finest authors in American literature.
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A Modern Instance William Dean Howells 9781489580634 Books Reviews
The print is too small to be legible & the top line of each page has a tiny margin. Between pages 106 and 107 is a 25-page book review IN FRENCH, which, in fact, is easier to read than at the novel, since it is in large, bold print. I had
to go to the lib to get a copy of the novel I could read for my book group. How do I get my money back?!
This is a duplicate review of mine that was posted on an out of print copy of this book. I wanted to copy/paste it on here, as it is the only version of this book on that is in stock.
I was introduced to this impressive novel by someone who has a taste for great authors, regardless if they are well known or not. William Dean Howells is not well known. He can be said to be the father of realism in the American literary uprising in the late 19th century, having influenced and discovered such American greats as Henry James and Mark Twain. He can be said to be their father, in a comical sort of way. From where I stand, among all Howell's books, A Modern Instance is his masterpiece.
This book is the very archetype of a realism novel that amasses tragedy, jealously, (of course love) and death. It can be a hard read towards the end for it is exceptional in its descriptions of settings and characters so much so that you will live vicariously through every character in this novel. If I am to be let free in this review, it could easily stretch to 2,000 words for there is much to say about so many nuances but I will save you the time.
A brief summary is that it follows a very young couple who get married without the consent from the wife's parents, starting on a destructive path from the beginning. She is overzealous and fictionalized in her love for Bartley (the husband) that, for Bartley, anything he could share or feel emotionally would sorely be too little. As they go further and further into their marriage, which does not span but a couple years, Bartley destructs and withers, while Marcia (the wife) does the same.
This book is overflowing with irony, and the characters will leave you analyzing them for months after putting the novel down. This indeed ranks as one of the top great realism novels coming out of American literature.
Now, if you have not heard of the book, or the author, stop whatever you are doing and search out the book. If not, you will be missing out on the likes of one of the most powerful authors to come out of the 19th century.
You have to be in a 19th century kind of reading mode to enjoy this classic. Tons of description and little plot probably make it a pass for those who are looking for fast paced stories that make the reader whip to the end to find out "what happens." However, if you enjoy watching a literary genius weave his story around small events with large consequences, and if you want to participate in those events by thinking about the author's purpose, you might find this novel appealing. I did, and I enjoyed thinking as I read, which most modern blockbusters don't demand.
I had read William Dean Howells' A Hazard of New Fortunes, which has been described as his most ambitious novel. I was duly impressed by it at the time.
He was one of the preeminent authors of his day but seems to have fallen into some obscurity, with only a handful of his writings still in print. Even though it was written in 1890, A Hazard of New Fortunes was eminently readable and a great pleasure in every way. Howells truly has the writer's gift.
Naturally I wanted to explore his writings further, so, I read his somewhat earlier work, A Modern Instance (1882).
The principal and supporting characters are exceedingly well drawn and seem like real people in every way, which seems to be one of Howells' strong points. An author of the realist school, at least at this point of his career, Howell's A Modern Instance seems thoroughly modern. However, unlike say the works of Theodore Dreiser, Howells steers clear of any kind of morbid obsession.
I won't go into the plot except to say that it is revealing of both rural and city life at the time. The denouement is highly original and unlike some books, whose endings can range from rushed to awkward, I found Howells' to be thoroughly satisfying.
I must say that without a doubt A Modern Instance serves to cement my opinion of Howells as one of the finest authors in American literature.
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