Eleanor Clark Criticism
Eleanor Clark was a multifaceted American writer known for her novels, short stories, memoirs, translations, essays, children's books, and travel writing. Her literary prowess is evident in her ability to depict settings and people with exceptional clarity and detail, a skill that enriches both her fiction and travel writings. Among her acclaimed works is The Oysters of Locmariaquer, which earned her the National Book Award in 1965. Critics have noted her unique narrative style that often blends detailed observation with broader thematic concerns. For instance, John Wain praises her detailed, essay-like approach in The Oysters of Locmariaquer, though acknowledging some stylistic challenges. In her novel The Bitter Box, Richard Plant sees a modern parable with Kafka-like ambitions, while John Hay critiques it for its abstract detachment. Her travel writing, like Rome and a Villa, transcends the genre, capturing the essence of locales with historical depth, as noted by P. M. Pasinetti. Clark was married to fellow writer Robert Penn Warren, which further underscored her connection to the literary world.
Contents
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Clark, Eleanor (Vol. 19)
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Books of the Week: 'The Bitter Box'
(summary)
In the following essay, John Hay critiques Eleanor Clark's novel "The Bitter Box" for its sophisticated style but ultimately finds it lacking in identity and coherence, comparing its abstract detachment to a film and noting its reliance on whimsical techniques that distance the reader from the characters and narrative purpose.
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Three First Novels
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In the following essay, Richard Plant critiques Eleanor Clark's novel The Bitter Box, comparing her ambitious, Kafka-like modern parable to the complexities of modern civilization while noting her skillful yet sometimes arbitrary symbolism and questioning whether readers will uncover its deeper meanings.
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The Mediterranean Spectacle
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In the following essay, P. M. Pasinetti argues that Eleanor Clark's Rome and a Villa transcends the traditional travelogue genre, presenting a literary work that artistically captures the essence of Rome through its subtle prose and historical depth.
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Oysters and a Novelist's Art
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In the following essay, John Wain evaluates Eleanor Clark's The Oysters of Locmariaquer as a work that combines the detail-oriented approach of an essayist with the narrative unity of a novel, despite some stylistic shortcomings, suggesting it reflects the essence of art through its depiction of life.
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'Baldur's Gate'
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In the following essay, Robert M. Adams critiques Eleanor Clark's "Baldur's Gate" for its blend of traditional village novel elements with complex, subterranean themes reminiscent of Faulkner, while noting its occasional tonal and psychological dissonance that ultimately challenges the coherence of its characters and narrative.
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New Fiction in Review: 'Baldur's Gate'
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In the following essay, Paul Edward Gray critiques Eleanor Clark's novel Baldur's Gate, praising its vivid depiction of the village of Jordan while noting that the narrative's tendency towards digression and selective reticence can distract from the book's overall serious and rewarding nature.
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The Unbuilt Gate: Eleanor Clark's View of the Human Condition
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In the following essay, Walter Sullivan argues that Eleanor Clark's novel "Baldur's Gate" achieves an artistic wholeness by intricately blending character and theme to reflect the fragmented nature of modern life, emphasizing the necessity of reconciling with the past, the present's demands, and ultimately, the redemptive power of love.
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Skip the Pep Talks and False Cheer
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In the following essay, Lynne Sharon Schwartz analyzes Eleanor Clark's Eyes, Etc., arguing that while the narrative's tough-mindedness initially hinders its impact, the book's power and emotional resonance emerge through Clark's acceptance of her blindness and her integration of epic themes from classical literature.
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Lost Time
(summary)
In the following essay, Philip French critiques Eleanor Clark's memoir Eyes, Etc., highlighting its reflections on societal decay and personal struggle with blindness, but notes the work's narrative flaws and the diminished impact of its thematic exploration through Homeric references.
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Culture Shock in Vermont
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In the following essay, Benjamin DeMott criticizes Eleanor Clark's "Gloria Mundi" for its lack of emotional engagement with characters, arbitrary plot connections, and narrative slackness, ultimately arguing that the novel's story lacks the binding power needed to maintain interest.
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Brief Reviews: 'Gloria Mundi'
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In the following essay, Ann Hulbert critiques Eleanor Clark's Gloria Mundi for its nostalgic depiction of a rural community in Vermont disrupted by modernity, noting Clark's focus on character over sensational plot, yet critiquing her tendency to idealize the setting and characters without fully exploring the complexities of external threats.
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Thrashing Her Moral Tail
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In the following essay, Stephen Goodwin argues that Eleanor Clark's novel, Gloria Mundi, serves as a vehement denunciation of societal hypocrisy and corruption, critiquing the arbitrary nature of plot and fate while emphasizing the author's relentless moral fervor and rejection of conventional narrative and character likability.
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Books of the Week: 'The Bitter Box'
(summary)
- Clark, Eleanor (Vol. 5)