On Native Grounds: An Interpretation Of Modern American Prose Literature (Harvest Book)

Alfred Kazin was one of the great literary critics of his generation. 'On Native Grounds' a study of late nineteenth- century and early twentieth century American Literature is his most well- known critical work. It opens with a masterful consideration of the dilemnas of the Dean of American Literature of the time, the great champion of Realism, William Dean Howells. It shows how Howells became despite his great eminence increasingly isolated in a world in which Naturalism and even young Realists seemed to go their way without him. Kazin displays a vast reading in this work but wears this quite easily. The book is a highly readable one. There are those who say that he despite his efforts came close to producing a work of criticism on this level of originality again. And this when his autobiographical writings have a unique literary value and strength of their own, arguably even beyond the critical ones.

Kazin or Edmund Wilson, take your pick for the most penetrating 20th century American literary critic. 'On Native Grounds', Kazin's magnum, is especially good on American realism. Kazin is an engaging raconteur, fills in the common lacunae, and has a capacious thumbnail - very useful for the University level student, essential for grad and post grad work in american lit.

Alfred Kazin was by any reasonable measure one of America's greatest critics and men of letters, a reader who read first of all as a human being full of questions, passions, and--alas, overworked noun--heart. This is the astounding apprenticeship piece by the 27 year old Kazin. Does it have weaknesses? Surely. Young Kazin was blazing trails, as well as sharpening his tools, making way for future works of the journeyman. But it also sets a standard that those of us, like myself, who are nearly twice the age of the then young author, could scarcely live up to. Judged from a mature perspective, four stars. Judged as a work of youth, more than five. Young critics scholars, read and weep--and, of course, learn.

This is an excellent review of the literature of the late 19th century up until the first third or so of the 20th. It is written with the purpose of finding a higher meaning to the changes undergoing literature during this time period, and Kazin does a remarkable job of keeping this long book interesting. The book helped me understand how many of my favorite authors fit into the 'grand scheme of literature' as well as how authors and individual books fit into political and social history. It was also useful for discovering new authors that I may like to read someday. I would recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in literature.