These self-appointed deacons in the Church of Latter-Day…
“These self-appointed deacons in the Church of Latter-Day American Literature seem to regard generosity (of words) with suspicion, texture with dislike, and any broad literary stroke with outright hate. The result is a strange and arid literary climate where a meaningless little fingernail paring like Nicholson Baker's Vox becomes an object of fascinated debate and dissection, and a truly ambitious American novel like Matthew's Heart of the Country is all but ignored.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Describes a hostile literary climate where novelty is shunned and safe, bland works dominate.
In simple terms: Literature is stifled by fear of innovation.
Key Takeaway
Support daring, original writing.
Themes
conformity
censorship
literary trends
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
provocative
observational
When to use this quote
- publishing decisions
- author workshops
- literary awards
Key Concepts
risk aversion
market pressures
gatekeeping
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a truly experimental novel look like today?
- How can readers encourage bold storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Even safe works can have artistic merit; risk isn’t the only value.