Carpenter's Gothic (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: William Gaddis
- First Published: 1985
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire
- Subjects: Culture, New York, United States or Americans, Africa or Africans, Religion, Ministry or ministers, Veterans, Politicians, Mass media, Nuclear warfare or weapons, Bribery
- Locales: New York
Gaddis's third novel in as many decades, Carpenter's Gothic was also his bleakest satire. Its style, as well as its theme of cultural entropy in a civilization where meaning and value are utterly degraded in a complex “media-scape,” are consistent developments for him. While no plot summary can succeed in conveying the rich tapestry of characters, events, and cultural detailing in his work, this novel is not only briefer (at 262 pages) but also more focused—and therefore more readable—than either of Gaddis's prior works. For many readers, it therefore constitutes the...
[The entire page is 1077 words long]
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