Great American Novel

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On the eve of its seventieth birthday, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man (1952) occupies a unique place in the American canon. On the one hand, it was instantly heralded as a Great American Novel---indeed, as Lawrence Buell notes in his study of GANs, it was the first novel by an African American to be universally admitted to the pantheon of important national fiction. At the same time, the book's subsequent reputation has ridden a rollercoaster of praise and complaint suggesting our uncertainty about what degree an epic novel about race relations should emphasize the political over the aesthetic. But while some critics find the novel a little too conservative in its insistence on the absolute autonomy of individuals to create their own identity in America, there is no doubt that Ellison's tense interrogation of the power institutions like the police and political groups exploit over minorities makes it absolutely relevant to the Black Lives Matter era.

In this episode, we explore how Ellison fused European modernism with African American jazz to create the singular voice of his narrator, whose name we're never told. We examine how the plot's picaresque form differs from Bildungsroman many coming-of-age novelists were rewriting in the 1950s and delve deep into the use of symbolism, perhaps the most telltale trait at the time Ellison wrote of a GAN's "literariness." We ask why Ellison never published a second novel after Invisible Man even as he was able to produce some of the most enduring essays on race in literature and culture until his death in 1994. Most importantly, we ask what it means for people to be invisible in American society, and how Ellison's unique exploration of the issue results in a philosophically complex story that insists that the Self must first retreat from the world to forge itself before emerging to rewrite the cliches and stereotypes the culture imposes on it.  

Canon Fodder: The Time of Man, Elizabeth Madox Roberts

Music in order of appearance: “Old Ralley” by Lobo Loco; "Up in My Jam" by Kubbi; "Rap Dreams" by LOWERCASE_n; and “Inspector Invisible,” also by Lobo Loco. Clips of Ellison courtesy of (respectively) the Iowa State University Library; New York Public Library; and the Oklahoma Historical Society Film and Video Archives.

 All opinions are the hosts' own and do not reflect the points of view of their employers, publishers, relatives, pets, or accountants. 

All show music is by Lobo Loco.  The intro song is “Old Ralley”; the intermission is “The First Moment,” and the outro is “Inspector Invisible.”  For more information visit: https://locolobomusic.com/.

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The Great American Novel podcast is an ongoing discussion about the novels we hold up as significant achievements in our American literary culture.  Additionally, we sometimes suggest novels who should break into the sometimes problematical canon and at other times we’ll suggest books which can be dropped from such lofty consideration.  Your hosts are Kirk Curnutt and Scott Yarbrough, professors with  little time and less sense who nonetheless enjoy a good book banter.  

 This episode focuses on the novel branded more than any other as the Great American Epic Novel: Herman Melville’s classic 1851 novel Moby Dick. We delve into such important questions as, why was the whale white?  What does it mean that Ahab leaves behind wife and child?  Is he thwarting the will of God?  Is Gregory Peck better in the film role than Patrick Stewart?  Why chapters about ropes and squeezing sperm? Why, when all is said and done, is this the most canonical of all canonical novels?  Is it truly worthy of the label “Great American Novel”?

 Additionally, for Canon Fodder Kirk proposes Charles Johnson’s excellent 1990 novel, Middle Passage. 

 The intro song is “Old Ralley” by Lobo Loco; the outro is “Inspector Invisible,” also by Lobo Loco.  The film trailer clips are from Moby Dick, directed by John Huston in 1956.

 All opinions are the hosts' own and do not reflect the points of view of their employers, publishers, relatives, pets, or accountants. 

All show music is by Lobo Loco.  The intro song is “Old Ralley”; the intermission is “The First Moment,” and the outro is “Inspector Invisible.”  For more information visit: https://locolobomusic.com/.

Send us Fan Mail

Ever since J. W. DeForest popularized the phrase "Great American Novel" in 1868 commentators have debated the limits of all three of its components. Does "great" necessarily mean a big "doorstop" book or is concision a worthy goal? Whose version America are we talking? And why the novel not a poem, play, or short story? In our inaugural episode we preview the challenges of defining a GAN and explore why so many writers have felt compelled to parody the concept as much as pursue it.  Feel free to send us your thoughts on the problems of canonizing works of literature at [email protected]. Music in this episode is by Lobo Loco: "Old Ralley" (intro) and "Inspector Unvisible" (outro).  

 All opinions are the hosts' own and do not reflect the points of view of their employers, publishers, relatives, pets, or accountants. 

All show music is by Lobo Loco.  The intro song is “Old Ralley”; the intermission is “The First Moment,” and the outro is “Inspector Invisible.”  For more information visit: https://locolobomusic.com/.