Review of Michael Hudgens' Donald Barthleme: Postmodernist American Writer
By Roger E. Dendinger, Ph.D.
Comparing writers to visual artists, William S. Burroughs once said that writing is fifty years behind painting. From a Burroughsian perspective, painters successfully deal with technological change and resulting cultural stresses because they work outside the straightjacket of language. With mere words as the base material of their art, writers face constraints of linear narrative and logical representation unknown to painters. (Tom Wolfe's The Painted Word describes the dilemma of abstract and conceptual artists who rely on textual explanation and commentary.) As Michael Hudgens makes clear in Donald Barthleme: Postmodernist American Writer, Barthelme's achievement in overcoming the "backwardness" of writing was won in the aesthetic battleground over the nature of narrative and representation. Hudgens explicates two of Barthelme's best known novels, The Dead Father and Snow White, and the short story, "Paraguay," a work considered emblematic of literary postmodernism by both sides in this debate - by critics who scorn postmodernism as chaotic or willfully difficult and by those sympathetic to the need for exploring heterogeneous forms of expression. The nature of cultural postmodernism is a significant sub-theme of the study, and here Hudgens makes a valuable contribution to the theoretical standoff between postmodernism and its critics. He identifies elements of Barthelme's work that contrast starkly with tenets of high modernist criticism, explicating them in the context of Barthelme's stated goals as a writer. In a key chapter, he traces Barthelme's development of the technical innovations of Joyce and makes a convincing case for viewing Joyce's experimental works as a Rosetta stone for deciphering Barthelme and, by extension, other postmodernists.
Rather than diving into the theoretical debate over postmodernism (a profitless undertaking at best), Hudgens uses the outlines of the debate as a frame for explication. He avoids the semantic hairsplitting of language philosophy and the willful obscurantism of much post-structural cultural criticism, focusing instead on the bedrock material of traditional literary scholarship - the artist's own words and works. An example of Hudgens' method is his reference to Barthelme's interest in architectural theory, where the debate between modernists and postmodernists has produced manifestos on both sides. Barthleme's interest in architecture was both personal - his father was an architect - and philosophical. He found a corollary to his own linguistic pioneering in the contemporary theoretical struggle within architecture, a struggle pitting practitioners of established formal approaches against innovators seeking new expressive possibilities. Much as "po-mo architects" seek alternatives to the inherited language of 20th century architecture, Barthelme sought new ways of expressing his own brand of literary realism. As in other manifestations of post-modernism, the defining feature of postmodern architecture is, in the words of Fredrick Jameson, the "effacement of the frontier between high culture and so-called mass or commercial culture." High modernism in architecture is associated with Utopianism, elitistism, and authoritarianism and is credited with destroying the urban fabric of traditional neighborhoods by transplanting Utopian structures and plans into the context of pre-modern cities. Le Corbusier's statement that "architecture has for its first duty...bringing about a revision of values" may be seen as the ultimate expression of high modernist values in the realms of architecture and city planning. This magisterial view is countered by one of Bartheleme's artistic touchstones, the architect and critic, Robert Venturi, whose postmodernism presents itself as a brand of architectural populism. Venturi's Learning from Las Vegas is widely regarded as one of postmodernism's most lucid declarations. In it, he celebrates eclectic diversity and scorns the unidirectional methodology of modern architects and planners. Is a particular work a "magisterial pronouncement," a "master-narrative" in the tradition of high modernism? Is it the product of a literature of inclusion, of healthy populism, heterogeneity? Is it, that is, Venturi-like? Or, as critics such as Frederick Jameson contend, is post-modernism a faux populism with a deeply disguised political agenda? The literary critic's task is to untangle these and other issues. By combining pertinent details of Barthelme's biography with a New Critic's view of literature as an internally unified structure of meaning, Hudgens avoids theoretical campaigning and illuminates the tension in Barthleme's work between tradition and Ezra's Pound's old directive - make it new.

Review of Donald Barthelme, Postmodern American Writer By John J. Dunn, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Hudgens has written a scholarly and provocative book on Donald Barthelme and his position in the cultural phenomenon called Postmodernism. He has succeeded very well in analyzing Barthelme's often difficult fiction and relating it to other significant examples of Postmodernism in literature and art.

For example, his analysis of the innovative story "On Angels" is unusually perceptive. It reveals how Barthelme tries to come to terms with traditional theology in an age which often questions the existence of God. Obviously, Barthelme has been strongly influenced by his Catholic background, particularly Thomism (the five "proofs" for the existence of God, etc.). Hudgens comments cogently on both the wit and the experimental technique of this startling story. Calling The Dead Father Barthelme's best novel, he provides a detailed exegesis of this brilliant, complex work-a haunting fictional examination of the ambiguities which drive family relationships. In this chapter, Hudgens authenticates the accuracy of the author's assertion that he sought "a meditation upon external reality" in his fiction.

Besides providing clear and explicit analyses of Barthelme's novels and short stories, Hudgens traces the similarities between this fiction and other works associated with Modernism and Postmodernism. He reveals, for instance, a deep understanding of James Joyce and his many-faceted contributions to Twentieth Century literature. His tudy of "The Dead" constitutes perhaps the most powerful and insightful segment of his book. He is also obviously a member of that distinguished minority of literary scholars who actually understand Finnegans Wake. . . .

Hudgens expertly refutes many of the broader criticisms of Postmodernism contained in John Gardner's On Moral Fiction (1978). He is fair-minded and judicious in his response to this controversial work, but he makes a convincing case that Gardner grossly underestimates the seriousness and substantiality of much Postmodernist literature and art.

Aside from its honest and meticulous scholarship, Donald Barthelme: Postmodernist American Writer is unusually readable for a scholarly tom of this sort. Quotations are carefully selected and are integrated smoothly into the text. Hudgens' style is lucid, often even elegant and witty. He manages to avoid the tortured syntax and overly cerebral vocabulary of many learned works of criticism. Furthermore, he is never afraid to use humor or irony when a lighter note is appropriate.

Donald Barthelme: Postmodernism American Writer is a major critical study of an increasingly respected fiction writer. It will be a valued addition to the growing body of scholarship surrounding Barthelme's writing and its position in the Postmodernist movement.

I thought that this was a very assured and informative biography of Thomas Wolfe, not only shedding light on his development and work as an author, but also bringing the reader close to getting a feel of what Wolfe the human being must have been like.

I felt that Donald, whilst being a fan of Wolfe's work, maintained a balanced assessment of him: Wolfe had highly unattractive traits - a heavy drinker, untidy and unkempt, intolerant (especially of Jews, which was ironic given the fact that he had a long relationship with Mrs Aline Bernstein, who was herself Jewish) and frequently overbearing.

Wolfe's early struggles to establish himself as a playwright and his emergence as a novelist are described in detail. Wolfe was essentially a "prose machine" unable to control the flows of words and thus the length and structure of his novels. I found the accounts of Wolfe's relationship with his editors, Maxwell E Perkins and latterly Edward C Aswell, fascinating.

A must for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this interesting novelist.

Did you know that F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway all had the same editor at Charles Scribner's and Sons: Maxwell Perkins. Some critics have said that Perkins basically wrote Tom Wolfe's last novel because it was a too-long mess that needed to be edited into a cohesive whole. I read halfway through "Look HomeWard Angel" and "Of Time and the River". Both read like a hot day in Asheville, North Carolina. When I have time I plan to go back and reread these novels because Shelby Foote and Walker Percy spoke highly of them.

This book is amazing. It is completely thorough, and contains information on any place in Monterey County that you can think of, or find on a map. It's hard to imagine that this book is the work of just one man.

If you live in or are familiar with Monterey County, you will find that this reference book reads more like a novel. It is well written and contains historical references back into the mid-1800s, including historical maps, magazines, books, and newspaper articles.

This book is a must for anyone concerned with the history of Monterey County. It would be a fantastic addition to the library of anyone interested in the place names within the county, or even people interested in the writings of Steinbeck (example: where is Tortilla Flat, and how did it get its name?).

Some other interesting examples: How did Monterey get its name? How about Hurricane Point? Point Lobos? Big Sur? Ever hear of Jamesburg? There is so much in this book that it will keep you busy and interested for years to come.

Wonderful book that provides superb insights into the background and history of the Monterey County, California, including the Big Sur region.

Structured by place names, it provides eye-opening insights into the historic derivation of towns, parks, and landmarks throughout the county.

The sister book, "Place Names of Santa Cruz County" is equally useful and interesting, though significantly thinner - no doubt because its a smaller county.

Highly recommend this book for anyone exploring the Big Sur, Point Lobos and surrounding areas.

Has a lot of information to understand about de Production and Inventory Management

In 7 large steps the writers show the reader the basics of production planning. Master planning, inventory management, MRP, capacity management, production activity control, JIT and the theory of constraints are explained, not only as basic statements, but also including some standard calculation approaches. 1991, the first production computer systems were introduced, but this book stays at the basic. What to do if the current ERP-systems fail and the millennium bug strikes again? Step-by-step, with a calculator in the hand.

This is a "must-have" book for anyone engaged in field research or a student of field research methods. The approach is to maximize validity of research findings based on a number of considerations in the design of field research. Examines the pit-falls made by most new and inexperienced field researchers and evaluators. Before you conduct your next program evaluation, design an applied research study, or start to collect dissertation data, read this book!

"Quasi-Experimentation" carries on the work begun by Campbell and Stanley in "Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research." Beginning with a discussion of the positivist origins of science and evaluation research, it details a range of quasi-experimental approaches suitable to "real world" research, together with statistical techniques applicable to each. The book includes a realistic assessment of the barriers to randomization in natural settings, including the observation that true randomization is rarely used unless there is a marked power differential between the researcher and the subjects. The book is thoughtful, well-written, and invaluable.

If you tend to wake up in the middle of the night to worry, this book will soothe your mind. Donald Hall writes beautifully about his life in New Hampshire in a house and a town he clearly loves. He will remind you of beauties in your own life -the sound of a snow plow clearing the roads at night, remembering your grandparents' house, gazing at a pond with mist rising from it. This may sound like the book is too sentimental - but actually it is just peaceful.The woodcut illustrations are also a pleasure.

Every word of this work of prose is chiseled to perfection by Donald Hall, one of America's most gifted poets. This slight volume is among the most treasured in my personal library.

Andre Dubus wrote what is arguably the best short fiction of our generation. His stories are powerful and stay with the reader long after the book has been closed. The same is true of this book of tributes. Andre Dubus 111 wrote the foreword to the collection, a beautiful tribute to his relationship with his father. Tobias Wolff wrote the afterword. In between these pieces the book is filled with brief, intensely personal stories of the impact Andre had on people's lives. Contributors include Lee K. Abbott, Frederick Busch, James Lee Burke, Chris Offutt, Robert Olmstead, Tim Parrish, and many other fine writers. This book is an essential part of Andre's work, and should be read by anyone who admires his fiction.

Thomas Goslin, the founding pastor of the Community Church (English Speaking - primarily US origin) of Madrid (Spain), makes a powerful presentation for a form of church planting that is not tied to immediate or future plans for the building, buying, and maintaining a traditional brick and mortar church. Drawing from Tom's abundant experience with traditional congregations and the Community Church of Madrid, he explores the benefits to the ministry and mission of his large congregation worshipping on a permanent basis in a variety of locations, all for much fewer resources than required by traditional building-based congregations. A well balanced book, Tom does not hold up this approach as appropriate for every situation, but he makes a compelling case for broader use of "The Church Without Walls. This book is a good read for anyone interested in church planting, church growth, evangelism, and mission.

This is a common sense and practical way to learn the ins and outs of finding out information on an ancestor who may have served in the Civil War. It's well written and informative, providing a step-by-step approach to gathering that information. People are always interested in finding out what their ancestor may have done in the war. This guide gives you the advice on how to gather that information, but also ways to expand your knowledge base, by pursuing information on their regiment, division, or corps. A great little book!

This book was first released in 1978 but has now been re-released in hardback by Cassell under the title 'Cochrane, Britannia's Sea Wolf'. After reading this book I am amazed that it has taken nearly twenty years to be re-released. What a great story Mr. Thomas tells of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, later the 10th Earl of Dundonald. From his birth through to his death covering all his exploits in numerous sea battles and actions, so many in fact that you find it hard to believe that he survived.

The book covers Cochrane's battles during the Napoleonic Wars during which, on many occasions, he sent his ship in action against overwhelming odds. It was during this period that he was recognized, as one of Britain's most daring and successful captains. It was also during this period that he made many enemies, although he pressed hard in every action and took many risks, he always considered the well being of the men under his command. This later led to his single-handed campaign against corruption in the Admiralty.

Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 Cochrane commenced an extraordinary career as a mercenary admiral. He subsequently commanded the navies of Chile and Brazil and launched campaigns against their protagonists, Spain and Portugal. After finishing his 'little wars' in South America he took command of elements of the Greek navy in their war against the Turks. In all these campaigns Cochrane again showed that he was one of the best naval commanders of his time.

The narrative flowed along smoothly and although I have no great knowledge of maritime history I had no problems in following this story. In over 350 pages of text along with a number of black & white plates and a few maps Mr. Thomas tells a wonderful and exciting story. This is the type of book, which I am sure any person who has a love for history or who enjoys the novels of C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brien will just love. A must for any serious student of naval tactics or Napoleonic warfare.