Unified in an introductory essay around the theme of falsehood, these essays range from excursions into 18th-century fiction to an encounter with Thomas Pynchon's postmodern novel ""V""; from an exploration of Orwell's ""1984"" in the light of anti-Semitism to a study of Sterne's ""Tristram Shandy"" in the light of his suppressed antagonist, Bishop Warburton; and from a reading of ""A Sentimental Journey"" through the filter of Proust to a reading of ""A Tale of a Tub"" through the filter of ""The Magic Mountain"". While the idea of fabrication is inherent in most postmodern commentary, New's criticism in these essays lies to the right of the literary academy, manifesting itself as a ""contrarian"" not liberal, mode of thinking. In his introduction, he takes note of the dread of totalitarianism that defines the horizon of all post-1945 literary study, and of the reader's necessary task to distinguish lies of power from lies of art - a difficult task, he writes, since ""Power will often speak with the voice of art - is, indeed, art's best mimic, and worst."" If we cannot find the truth in our lies and the grace in our art, New asks, what do we pass on the next generation - ""what do we tell the children?"".
- ISBN13 9780813011202
- Publish Date 20 February 1992
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 24 April 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint University Press of Florida
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 256
- Language English