Thomas Pynchon & the dark passages of history

273 Pages·2011·1.348 MB·English

by  Pynchon, Thomas, Cowart, David, Pynchon, Thomas

Thomas Pynchon & the Dark Passages of History
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david cowart
&
thomas the dark
pynchon passages
of history
the university of georgia press
Athens & London
© 2011 by the University of Georgia Press
Athens, Georgia 30602
www.ugapress.org
All rights reserved
Designed by Walton Harris
Set in 10/14 ITC New Baskerville
Printed and bound by Thomson-Shore
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
15 14 13 12 11 P 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cowart, David, 1947–
Thomas Pynchon and the dark passages of history / David Cowart.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8203-4062-3 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8203-4062-6 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8203-4063-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8203-4063-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Pynchon, Thomas—Criticism and interpretation. I. Title.
PS3566.Y55Z59 2012
813'.54—dc22 2011021936
British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
ISBN for this digital edition: 978-0-8203-3709-8
For Pamela,
Lodestar to this wandering bark
Doch alles, was uns unrührt, dich und mich,
Nimmt uns zusammen wie ein Bogenstrich,
Der aus zwei Saiten eine Stimme zieht.
Auf welches Instrument sind wir gespannt?
Und welcher Geiger hat uns in der Hand?
O süsses Lied.
—rainer maria rilke
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Think now
History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors
And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions,
Guides us by vanities.
—t. s. eliot, “Gerontion”
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contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
Abbreviations xix
Introduction: Calibrating Clio 1
one. Prospero’s Apprenticeship: Slow Learner 25
two. History and Myth: Pynchon’s V. 40
three. Streben nach dem Unendlichen: Germany and German
Culture in Pynchon’s Early Work 57
four. Pynchon and the Sixties: The California Novels 82
five. The Luddite Vision: Mason & Dixon 136
six. Pynchon, Genealogy, History: Against the Day 159
seven. The Historiographer Historicized:
Pynchon and Literary History 189
Notes 207
Books, Pamphlets, and Special Periodical
Issues on Thomas Pynchon 221
Works Cited 227
Index 237