This oldfashioned primer on literature from the esteemed critic james wood concentrates on the art of the novel. How fiction works by james wood and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He is the author of how fiction works, as well as two essay collections, the broken estate and the irresponsible self, and a novel, the book against god. James wood ranges widely, from homer to make way for ducklings, from the bible to john le carre, and his book is both a study of the techniques of fiction making and an alternative history of the novel. James wood has been a staff writer and book critic at the new yorker since 2007. How fiction works by james wood, 9780312428471, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Forsters aspects of the novel and milan kunderas the art of the novel, how fiction works is a scintillating study of the magic of fictionan analysis of its main elements and a celebration of its lasting power. James douglas graham wood born 1 november 1965 is an english literary critic, essayist and novelist. Playful and profound, it incisively sums up two decades of bold, often controversial, and now classic critical work, and will be enlightening to writers. How fiction works audiobook, written by james wood. Wood ranges widely, from homer to beatrix potter, from the bible to john le carre, and his book is both a study of the techniques of fictionmaking and an alternative history of the novel. Adopting an enthusiasts approach, the author examines classic and contemporary aesthetic choices, citing the works of several dozen favorite.
James woods how fiction works makes a passionate case for the novel, arguing that it puts other forms of creative writing firmly in the shade. I came to james woods how fiction works after years of consulting harold bloom for my literary opinions, and so what wood calls this little book was for me revelatory. Back in 1994, prompted by harold blooms the western canon, james wood presented guardian readers with his own list of the best british and american writing since 1945. He is the author of how fiction works, as well as two essay collections, the broken estate and the irresponsible self, and a novel, the book. James wood s most popular book is how fiction works. How fiction works by james wood books the guardian. James wood ranges widely, from homer to make way for ducklings, from the bible to john le carre, and his book is both a study of the techniques of fictionmaking and an alternative history of the novel. The last third of the book presents the culmination of how fiction works.
How fiction works by james wood penguin books australia. How fiction works tenth anniversary edition james wood. James wood books list of books by author james wood. Aug 17, 2008 wood seems firm in his conviction that accounting for how fiction works neednt involve bewildering digressions into why writers write or why readers read.
The way book coverage works these days, everyone talks about the same book for about two or three weeks, and then they move on and the book is more. Wood is able to clearly and intelligently explain just why it is important that these works are read, and shows the benefits of careful, attentive reading. At some point in the past decade, james wood became the most. How fiction works belongs to the upper shelf of what is turning into a very considerable critical subgenre. See all books authored by james wood, including how fiction works, and the broken estate. He is the author of how fiction works, several essay collections, and the novel the book against god. A students small leap into the study of fiction, analyzing its. He is the author of how fiction works, several essay collections, and the novel the book against god james adams is one of the worlds leading. James douglas graham wood born 1 november 1965 is an english literary critic, essayist and novelist wood was the guardian s chief literary critic between 1992 and 1995. These are some of the questions james wood answers in how fiction works, the first booklength essay by the preeminent critic of his.
Eight years ago, in an essay in the new republic, wood dismayed several of the best. Bloom is at once the most demanding and naive of readers. Jul 22, 2008 these are some of the questions james wood answers in how fiction works, the first book length essay by the preeminent critic of his generation. He was a senior editor at the new republic between 1995 and 2007. Feb 07, 2008 how fiction works is a fascinating theoretical book that should be read by anyone interesting in literature, linguistics and the foundations underlying creative writing itself. James wood is a staff writer at the new yorker and professor of the practice of literary criticism at harvard university. Aug, 2008 by the novelist, auden means the realistic novelist, perhaps someone like his friend christopher isherwood. James wood has 157 books on goodreads with 78892 ratings. Apr 21, 2009 these are some of the questions james wood answers in how fiction works, the first book length essay by the preeminent critic of his generation. Playful and profound, how fiction works will be enlightening to writers, readers, and anyone else interested in what happens on the page.
Ranging widelyfrom homer to david foster wallace, from what maisie knew to make way for ducklingswood takes the reader through the basic elements of the art, step by step. Ranging widelyfrom homer to david foster wallace, from what maisie knew to make way for ducklings wood takes the reader through the basic elements of the art, step by step. Mar 12, 2020 james wood ranges widely, from homer to make way for ducklings, from the bible to john le carre, and his book is both a study of the techniques of fictionmaking and an alternative history of the novel. Ranging widely from homer to david foster wallace, from what maisie knew to make way for ducklings, wood takes the listener through the basic elements of the art, step by step. How fiction works, by james wood new york magazine book. How fiction works by wood, james, 1965publication date 2008 topics fiction publisher new york. How fiction works, by james wood new york magazine. Buy how fiction works book online at low prices in india. Wood seems firm in his conviction that accounting for how fiction works neednt involve bewildering digressions into why writers write or. Wood contends that few books have appeared that consider how fiction works after the publication in 1927 of e. Wood ranges widely, from homer to make way for ducklings, the bible to john le carre, and his book is both a study of the techniques of fictionmaking and an alternative history of the novel.
James woods most popular book is how fiction works. Now that the concepts of character, dialogue, details, and so on have been dealt with, wood is able to tackle. Book purchased for studying and as a reference guide. By the novelist, auden means the realistic novelist, perhaps someone like his friend christopher isherwood. Following the broken estate, the irresponsible self, and how fiction works books that established james wood as the leading critic of his generationthe fun stuff confirms wood s preeminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of the contemporary novel. Forsters classic aspects of the novel in a book length analysis of the techniques that make fiction both artifice and verisimilitude. Sean dorrance kelly james wood, the sincere, somewhat oldfashioned, unpretentious yet highminded new yorker literary critic, spoke at the harvard book store recently about his new book, how fiction works. James wood is a staff writer at the new yorker and a visiting lecturer in english and american literature at harvard. Previously he taught literature with saul bellow at boston university and, in 1994, served as a judge for the booker prize. Jul 22, 2008 how fiction works is also, although more tacitly, a defense of woods most controversial position as a critic. How fiction works is a fascinating theoretical book that should be read by anyone interesting in literature, linguistics and the foundations underlying creative writing itself. How fiction works by james wood, 9781845950934, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
He found bloom a fine, if prejudiced, reader of poetry, but an unreliable reader of prose. These are some of the questions james wood answers in how fiction works, the first book length essay by the preeminent critic of his generation. James wood draws references from many different books and breaks everything down to varying levels of analysis to have a look at what makes fiction fiction. As of 2014, he is professor of the practice of literary criticism at harvard university and a staff writer at the new yorker magazine. The list was offered as a mild corrective, an exercise wood considered amusing. Read download how fiction works pdf pdf book library. Playful and profound, how fiction works will be a revelation to writers, readers, and anyone interested in the magic of a written story. Wood was the guardian s chief literary critic between 1992 and 1995. The essence of the lesson, and it is hard to do it justice in a few sentences, is that excellent contemporary fiction differs from its predecessors in that it the authors presence is entirely. The first chapter, titled narrating, contains critically important information for the fiction writer. At some point in the past decade, james wood became the most admired youngish fiction critic working in english.
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