A collection of essays focused on the history and nature of the novel as an art form. An interesting look at his personal list of significant novelists who advanced or shifted the form and nature of the novel - interesting possible reading list. His develops a rather loose idea of how the novel is the form that closest reflects our modern sensibilities.
Several themes besides.
Some interesting reflections on the path of young artists in general vs. that of older, mature artists. Also, how the image or understanding of an older artist's work can be deformed by judgements of later generations who bring a different era, a different set of judgemental values, a different historical perspective to some aspect of the older artist's life or work. (Think Gunter Grass, of late.) (This is a recurring current problem, with our generation judging past history, events and figures based on today's social values and politically correct ideology. Interestingly, we live in a period of both great moral relativism and yet cannot understand the idea of "different times, different values" - I suspect it hinges more on transgression of moral values, moral issues I particularly hold dear...)
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