Ward Just Criticism
Ward Just is an American novelist, short story writer, and journalist whose works draw heavily from his experiences in Washington, D.C., and Vietnam. His nonfiction work, To What End: Report from Vietnam, provides a nuanced and compassionate account of the Vietnam War, delivering vivid descriptions and a skeptical yet emotional perspective, as noted by critics such as John Sack and Saul Maloff. His subsequent book, Military Men, is a precise study of the American army, appreciated for its empathetic portrayal of military life, as discussed by Paul Denison and the Virginia Quarterly Review.
In fiction, Just is acclaimed for his concise prose and ability to capture the essence of a place. His novel, Stringer, and his short story collection, The Congressman Who Loved Flaubert and Other Washington Stories, effectively depict the turmoil of Vietnam and the political landscape of Washington, D.C. His exploration of Midwestern life is evident in A Family Trust, which reflects traditional American virtues and regional identity, as noted by Doris Grumbach and the New Yorker. His novel In the City of Fear portrays the enduring impact of Vietnam on Washington insiders, examined by critics like Publishers Weekly and Jack Beatty.
Despite mixed critical reception, Just is respected for tackling complex political themes, as highlighted by Jonathan Yardley. His literary contributions continue to provide insightful reflections on American society and politics.
Contents
- Just, Ward
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Vietnam without a Soapbox
(summary)
In the following essay, John Sack examines Ward Just's restrained and non-polemical reporting style in his Vietnam report, To What End: Report From Vietnam, highlighting Just's focus on presenting a nuanced and compassionate perspective of the war without resorting to sensationalism or advocacy.
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The Absurd War
(summary)
In the following essay, Saul Maloff contends that Ward Just's "To What End" captures the futile and despairing essence of the Vietnam War through vivid descriptions and a journalist's skeptical yet emotional perspective, ultimately delivering a profoundly bleak report on the conflict.
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Robert E. Nordberg
(summary)
In the following essay, Robert E. Nordberg critiques Ward Just's first novel as lacking compelling characters and thematic clarity, suggesting that the protagonist's motivations are unconvincing and the narrative fails to effectively convey the author's intense sentiments.
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A Tourist in Greeneland
(summary)
In the following essay, L. J. Davis critiques Ward Just's novel "A Soldier of the Revolution," arguing that despite Just's skillful prose and insightful observations, the novel fails due to its lack of believable narrative and character motivations, as well as Just's misunderstanding of novelistic form and structure.
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The Army—and How to Survive It
(summary)
In the following essay, Paul Denison argues that Ward Just's "Military Men" provides an empathetic and nuanced portrayal of army life, blending precision with an impressionistic style to offer deeper insights into the "military mind" than critics, champions, or neutral observers typically provide.
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Military Men
(summary)
The essay evaluates Ward Just's Military Men as a compelling yet episodic narrative that, while lacking in historical and sociological depth, authoritatively portrays an American army beset by issues of discipline, race relations, civilian influences, and the impact of an unpopular war.
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Nicholson at Large
(summary)
In the following essay, L. J. Davis critiques Ward Just's novel Nicholson at Large as a lackluster work featuring clichéd writing and an incoherent plot, arguing that the desire to write does not justify publishing subpar fiction.
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A Reporter's Exorcism
(summary)
In the following essay, Arthur Cooper argues that Ward Just's novel "Nicholson at Large" explores themes of power abuse and self-deception through an ironically detached style, likening Just's artistic ambiguity to Harold Pinter, and elevating him from a "promising" writer to a formidable novelist reflecting on America's lost aspirations.
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The Familiar Virtues of an Old-Fashioned Novel
(summary)
In the following essay, Doris Grumbach contends that Ward Just's novel "A Family Trust" exemplifies an old-fashioned narrative style, emphasizing traditional American values such as decency and independence, while chronicling the struggle of a small town against the encroachments of modernity and big business.
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A Family Trust
(summary)
The critic praises Ward Just's A Family Trust as a meticulous portrayal of a Midwestern family and their regional identity, noting the author's ability to evoke sympathy for his characters through eloquent, energetic prose that highlights the Midwest's cultural complexities.
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People in Stress
(summary)
In the following essay, Yardley examines Ward Just's collection "Honor, Power, Riches, Fame, and the Love of Women," highlighting its themes of politics, war, and the complexity of human relationships under stress, while praising Just's stylistic finesse and his Jamesian, reflective storytelling approach.
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Media-tion
(summary)
In the following essay, D. Keith Mano examines Ward Just's collection "Honor, Power, Riches, Fame, and the Love of Women," highlighting its exploration of media professionals caught between truth and public perception, and how this liminal state impacts their personal lives and professional integrity.
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In the City of Fear
(summary)
The critic offers a compelling analysis of Ward Just's novel "In the City of Fear," highlighting its authentic portrayal of Washington's political scene, its interwoven personal and professional stories, and the pervasive impact of the Vietnam War, all underpinned by Just's passionate and convincing writing style.
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Washington's Drawing-Room War
(summary)
In the following essay, Jonathan Yardley critiques Ward Just's novel In the City of Fear for its ambitious exploration of Washington and Vietnam through a lens of power and moral dilemmas, while noting that its structural flaws and overt thematic focus detract from its effectiveness as a work of fiction.
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The Home Front
(summary)
In the following essay, Jack Beatty argues that Ward Just's novel "In the City of Fear" effectively uses allegorical details to explore the impact of the Vietnam War on Washington insiders, crafting a credible fiction that challenges the notion that serious themes about American power are unworthy of profound literature.