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• catalog abstract "Although Elizabeth Spencer's best-known, early novels have received well-deserved attention, her later, more challenging fiction has been generally ignored or misread. In Self and Community in the Fiction of Elizabeth Spencer, conceived as a comprehensive introduction to Spencer's work, Terry Roberts argues persuasively for a reevaluation of the Mississippi native's writing, demonstrating clearly that throughout a career of thirty-five years Spencer has sustained a unique, profound artistic vision based on the idea of community, examining ever more closely its texture and implications, as her writing technique has grown increasingly sophisticated. The idea of community and the individual's relationship to it has pervaded southern literature, and as Roberts reveals, that theme runs throughout Spencer's novels as well, even when their settings are not in the South. In her early novels, such as The Voice at the Back Door (1956) and This Crooked Way (1952), Spencer uses traditional narrative form and an objective viewpoint in setting the action of her books within the context of a small southern community. With The Light in the Piazza (1960) and Knights and Dragons (1965), both set in Italy, she shows a growing interest in characters alienated from, though still strongly affected by, their community. In her next stage of writing, in cosmopolitan novels such as No Place for an Angel (1967) and The Snare (1972), Spencer examines more complex social communities marked by late-twentieth-century anxieties and dislocations, and penetrates the psyches of the disaffected and alienated. She also experiments with new techniques in narrative structure, chronology, imagery, and point of view as means to dramatize how an individual both shapes and is shaped by the surrounding community. Unfortunately, many reviewers and critics misunderstood Spencer's innovative fiction. And ironically, Roberts maintains, it was just as her work was becoming less accessible that she was making her greatest strides artistically. Beginning with No Place for an Angel, for example, Spencer was moving toward a complex and subtle treatment of spiritual reconciliation in her novels, mirroring a sort of artistic reconciliation in her mastery of balance between content and technique. The Snare, The Salt Line (1984), and The Night Travellers (1991) are Spencer's best portrayals of people stripped of communal definition and support. Roberts examines Spencer's work in chronological order, typically discussing one novel per chapter, and treating her short stories in a separate chapter. He has had several long interviews with Spencer, and he draws on them to refine his understanding of her fiction. Self and Community in the Fiction of Elizabeth Spencer leaves no doubt that this writer merits a more prominent place in American literature. Roberts' straight-forward, clearly written introduction to her work will be welcomed by the scholar and general reader alike.".
• catalog contributor b5763378.
• catalog coverage "Mississippi In literature.".
• catalog coverage "Southern States In literature.".
• catalog created "c1994.".
• catalog date "1994".
• catalog date "c1994.".
• catalog dateCopyrighted "c1994.".
• catalog description "Although Elizabeth Spencer's best-known, early novels have received well-deserved attention, her later, more challenging fiction has been generally ignored or misread.".
• catalog description "Feuding families -- This crooked narrative way -- Challenging the forefathers -- Italy: dream and nightmare -- A broken culture -- Life's snare -- A certain path, a personal road -- Resurrection by moon and tide -- The ties that bind are holding forever.".
• catalog description "In Self and Community in the Fiction of Elizabeth Spencer, conceived as a comprehensive introduction to Spencer's work, Terry Roberts argues persuasively for a reevaluation of the Mississippi native's writing, demonstrating clearly that throughout a career of thirty-five years Spencer has sustained a unique, profound artistic vision based on the idea of community, examining ever more closely its texture and implications, as her writing technique has grown increasingly sophisticated.".
• catalog description "Includes bibliographical references (p. [137]-138) and index.".
• catalog description "Self and Community in the Fiction of Elizabeth Spencer leaves no doubt that this writer merits a more prominent place in American literature. Roberts' straight-forward, clearly written introduction to her work will be welcomed by the scholar and general reader alike.".
• catalog description "She also experiments with new techniques in narrative structure, chronology, imagery, and point of view as means to dramatize how an individual both shapes and is shaped by the surrounding community.".
• catalog description "The Snare, The Salt Line (1984), and The Night Travellers (1991) are Spencer's best portrayals of people stripped of communal definition and support. Roberts examines Spencer's work in chronological order, typically discussing one novel per chapter, and treating her short stories in a separate chapter. He has had several long interviews with Spencer, and he draws on them to refine his understanding of her fiction.".
• catalog description "The idea of community and the individual's relationship to it has pervaded southern literature, and as Roberts reveals, that theme runs throughout Spencer's novels as well, even when their settings are not in the South. In her early novels, such as The Voice at the Back Door (1956) and This Crooked Way (1952), Spencer uses traditional narrative form and an objective viewpoint in setting the action of her books within the context of a small southern community.".
• catalog description "Unfortunately, many reviewers and critics misunderstood Spencer's innovative fiction. And ironically, Roberts maintains, it was just as her work was becoming less accessible that she was making her greatest strides artistically. Beginning with No Place for an Angel, for example, Spencer was moving toward a complex and subtle treatment of spiritual reconciliation in her novels, mirroring a sort of artistic reconciliation in her mastery of balance between content and technique.".
• catalog description "With The Light in the Piazza (1960) and Knights and Dragons (1965), both set in Italy, she shows a growing interest in characters alienated from, though still strongly affected by, their community. In her next stage of writing, in cosmopolitan novels such as No Place for an Angel (1967) and The Snare (1972), Spencer examines more complex social communities marked by late-twentieth-century anxieties and dislocations, and penetrates the psyches of the disaffected and alienated.".
• catalog extent "141 p. ;".
• catalog identifier "0807118796 (cloth : alk. paper)".
• catalog isPartOf "Southern literary studies".
• catalog issued "1994".
• catalog issued "c1994.".
• catalog language "eng".
• catalog publisher "Baton Rouge : Louisiana State University Press,".
• catalog spatial "Mississippi In literature.".
• catalog spatial "Southern States In literature.".
• catalog spatial "Southern States".
• catalog subject "813/.54 20".
• catalog subject "Community life in literature.".
• catalog subject "PS3537.P4454 Z85 1994".
• catalog subject "Psychological fiction, American History and criticism.".
• catalog subject "Self in literature.".
• catalog subject "Spencer, Elizabeth Criticism and interpretation.".
• catalog subject "Spencer, Elizabeth, 1921- Criticism and interpretation.".
• catalog subject "Women and literature Southern States History 20th century.".
• catalog tableOfContents "Feuding families -- This crooked narrative way -- Challenging the forefathers -- Italy: dream and nightmare -- A broken culture -- Life's snare -- A certain path, a personal road -- Resurrection by moon and tide -- The ties that bind are holding forever.".
• catalog title "Self and community in the fiction of Elizabeth Spencer / Terry Roberts.".
• catalog type "text".