Willa Cather And The Politics Of Criticism

In this brilliant, impassioned and controversial book,New Yorkercritic Joan Acocella argues that twentieth-century literary critics from the Left and Right have misused Willa Cather and her works for their own political ends, and, in doing so, have either ignored or obscured her true literary achievement. In an acute and often very funny critique of the critics, Acocella untangles Cather's reputation from decades of politically motivated misreadings, and proposes her own clear-headed view of Cather's genius. At once a graceful summary of Cather's life and work, and a refreshing plea that books be read for themselves,Willa Cather and the Politics of Criticismwill also inspire readers to return to one of America's great novelists.

Joan Acocella is a <i>New Yorker</i> staff writer. Her books include <i>Mark Morris</i> and <i>Creating Hysteria: Women and Multiple Personality Disorder</i>. She lives in New York.