The Ambivalent Art of Katherine Anne Porter

265 Pages·2005·6.47 MB·English

by  Mary Titus

The Ambivalent Art of
Katherine Anne Porter
Mary Titus
The University of Georgia Press
THE AMBIVALENT ART OF KATHERINE ANNE PORTER
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KATHERINE
ANNE PORTER
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THE AMBIVALENT ART OF
KATHERINE
ANNE PORTER
MARY TITUS
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA PRESS ATHENS AND LONDON
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© 2005 by The University of Georgia Press
Athens, Georgia 30602
All rights reserved
Designed by Mindy Basinger Hill
Set in 10/13.5 Electra
Printed and bound by Maple-Vail
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for
permanence and durability of the Committee on
Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the
Council on Library Resources.
Printed in the United States of America
09 08 07 06 05 c 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Titus, Mary, 1956–
The ambivalent art of Katherine Anne Porter / Mary Titus.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn-13: 978-0-8203-2756-3 (hardcover : alk. paper)
isbn-10: 0-8203-2756-5 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Porter, Katherine Anne, 1890–1980—Criticism and
interpretation. 2. Women and literature—United States—
History—20th century. 3. Ambivalence in literature. I. Title.
ps3531.o752z826 2005
813'.52—dc22 2005017312
British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
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A thinking woman sleeps with monsters.
The beak that grips her, she becomes.
Adrienne Rich
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TO MY MOTHER, JILL TITUS, IN GRATITUDE FOR A LIFETIME OF BOOKS
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CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER ONE The Princess of Art 14
CHAPTER TWO Fairy Tales and Foreigners 27
CHAPTER THREE Beautiful Objects 47
CHAPTER FOUR Seeking the Mother Tongue 69
CHAPTER FIVE A Little Stolen Holiday 97
CHAPTER SIX Rumors and Representations 118
CHAPTER SEVEN Romantic Love 129
CHAPTER EIGHT Gender and Costume 154
CHAPTER NINE Southern Belle, Southern Lady 178
CHAPTER TEN No Safe Harbor 198
NOTES 215
BIBLIOGRAPHY 235
INDEX 243
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