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AMERICAN DREAM MELTING POT CRISIS OF FAITH VIOLENCE THE COLOR LINE THE FORBIDDEN
Author Kurt Vonnegut
Book cover of LOLITA.
Part psychological study, detective story, confession, and sexual meditation -- and part wryly self-conscious play on all of these forms -- LOLITA is told with an artful wit and lyricism that is eerily compelling.
Book cover of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE.
The popular image of the present-day American teen -- at least the intelligent and sensitive sort -- is deeply indebted to Holden Caulfield, the disillusioned and cynical 16 year-old protagonist of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE.
Book cover of SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE.
Kurt Vonnegut's 1969 absurdist masterpiece is based on his experiences as a POW in Dresden during the 1945 Allied firebombing there.
Photo of Vladimir Nabokov.
Russian-born author Vladimir Nabokov, who also lived in both Europe and the United States, is known for his wit and the intricate construction of his narratives. His novels are often noted for their complicated plots and the complex attitudes they express toward their subjects.
Photo of Philip Roth.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Phlip Roth is renowned for his frank, comic, and often satirical portraits of modern Jewish society and family life in the United States.
Photo of Kate Chopin.
Kate Chopin's work is known for its frank treatment of controversial subjects: sexual taboos, racial prejudice, and women's dissatisfaction with marriage and motherhood.
Take the Quiz:
Why was Vladimir Nabovok's LOLITA so controversial?
Symbols:
The letter "A" is meant to symbolize shame for the protagonist in this 1850 novel.
To Tell the Truth:
My tortured interior monologues reveal a preoccupation with my sister, Caddy, as well as honor and death.
Context & Hypertext:
Read contemporary reviews of RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE and PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT.
The American Novel