Form and Fable in American Fiction [Paperback]

Daniel Hoffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1994

Combining the disciplines of folklore and literary criticism in his perceptive readings of works by Irving, Hawthorne, Melville, and Mark Twain, Daniel Hoffman demonstrates how these authors transformed materials from both high and popular culture, from their European past and their American present, in works that helped to form our national consciousness. In his new preface, Hoffman describes the evolution of his critical method and suggests the book's value for contemporary readers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daniel Hoffman is Poet in Residence and Felix Schelling Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. Amonf his critical studies are Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe, Faulkner's Country Matters, and The Poetry of Stephen Crane. A former Consultant in Poetry of the Library of Congress, he is the author also of eight books of verse, including Brotherly Love and Hang-Gliding rom Helicon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press (April 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813915252
• ISBN-13: 978-0813915258
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,066,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of classical American fictional tropes, January 19, 2007

By 

Robert Mayette (Brookfield, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Form and Fable in American Fiction (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book immensely and relied on it heavily for a Master's thesis on the impact of medieval literature on the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hoffman's theories about the evolution of American archetypal characters is a must-read not only for those in the American literature academic community, but anyone desiring to write in a method that draws strength from that which is authentically American. Hoffman's analysis of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow sets an impressive stage, and his chapters on the impact of folk tales on Hawthorne's short stories are very insightful. The writing style is clear and scholarly without devolving into the common risk of pedanticism. On the creative side, as someone who is working on an historical fantasy set in early colonial Connecticut, I found this book to be helpful in tapping into the historical American voice. It is a volume to which I will often return.