American Superrealism: Nathanael West and the Politics of Representation in the 1930s

206 Pages·1997·7.46 MB·English

by  Jonathan Veitch

American Superrealism
The Wisconsin Project on AmericanWriters
Frank Lentricchia, General Editor
Atnerican Superrealistn
NATHANAEL WEST AND THE POLITICS OF
REPRESENTATION IN THE 1930S
Jonathan Veitch
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRESS
TheUniversityofWisconsinPress
2537DanielsStreet
Madison,Wisconsin53718
3HenriettaStreet
LondonWC2E8LU,England
Copyright© 1997
TheBoardofRegentsoftheUniversityofWisconsinSystem
Allrightsreserved
5 4 3 2
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Veitch,Jonathan.
Americansuperrealism: NathanaelWestandthepoliticsof
representationinthe 1930s/JonathanVeitch.
204pp. em.- (TheWisconsinprojectonAmericanwriters)
Includesbibliographicalreferences (p. 139)andindex.
ISBN0-299-15700-8 (cloth:alk.paper).
ISBN0-299-15704-0 (pbk.: alk. paper).
1.West,Nathanael,1903-1940-Criticismandinterpretation.
2. Capitalismandliterature-UnitedStates-History-20thcentury.
3.Politicsandliterature-UnitedStates-History-20thcentury.
4.Literatureandsociety-UnitedStates-History-20thcentury.
5. Nationalcharacteristics,American,inliterature. 6.Surrealism
(Literature)-UnitedStates. 7. Depressionsinliterature.
8.Economicsinliterature. 9.Mimesisinliterature.I.Title.
II. Series.
PS3545.E8334Z9 1997
813'.52-dc21 97-14031
For my father, John P. Veitch, who went west.

Contents
Acknowledgments IX
Preface Xl
Introduction: Who CanWe Shoot?
The Crisis ofRepresentation in the 1930s 3
PART I
1. American Superrealism 15
2. Euclid's Asshole: The Dream Life ofBalsa Snell 23
PART II
3. "Lousywith Pure / Reekingwith Stark": Contact 47
4. The People Talk: Miss Lonelyhearts 67
5. The Folklore ofCapitalism: A CoolMillion 88
6. The Cliches Are Having a Ball: The Day ofthe Locust 113
Postscript: Madonna's Bustier; or "The Burning ofLos Angeles" 132
Notes 139
Index 175
Vll

Acknowledgments
Ifittakesavillagetoraise achild, italsotakesonetowrite a book. Ihave
been blessed with a warm and generous village of family, friends, men
tors, and colleagues who have helped me to do both over the last few
years. Mydeepestdebtofgratitudeistomyfather andmother-Johnand
Carol Lee Veitch-who taught me the things that matter most in life and
embodied them with grace and style. Their extraordinary love has pro
vided my sister, Jonna, and me with the foundation that has enabled us
both to lead happy and productive lives.
I also wish to thank Al and Barbara Gelpi, who encouraged my intel
lectual ambitions, first as mentors at Stanford and later as dear friends.
Otherfriends and family have also lent me theirsupport:John andJonna
Carls, Kathy L~mour, Kevin Goodman, Keith Bloom, Jeff Stockwell,
Chet Olsen, Anthony Grumbach, and Doug Sortino. Not only did they
insistthat Itell them what Iwas working on, they listened intentlyto the
answer (or at leastthey acted as ifthey did) and affirmed its worth.
Sacvan Bercovitch first suggested to me that I write a book on
NathanaelWestand the 1930s, and he has remained unfailinglysupport
ive throughout its gestation. From the beginning I have tried to hold his
high standard of critical excellence before me as both a model and a
sourceofinspiration. Severalotherswerewillingto lookoverportionsof
the manuscript at various stages of undress, and they were kind enough
to do so without blushing: among them, Leo Marx, Werner Sollors, and
Daniel Aaron. Helen Vendler has been particularly generous with her
time, giving me both advice and enouragement when I most needed it.
DickranTashjianandMiles Orvell served as readers for the Universityof
Wisconsin Press. Their encouraging response and helpful commentary
not only improved the manuscript, they also breathed new life into its
tired author. Iam grateful to all ofthem.
No project of this sort can come to fruition without an Immense
IX