A New Reading of an Old Text in Eastern Europe: John Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle
Abstract Although rich in artistry and depth, Steinbeck’s novel In Dubious Battle (1936) has been judged less as a novel and more as a sociological event or a propagandistic political tract. At least contemporary critics are inclined to treat the book as a legitimate work of art, to be approached from a variety of the usual aesthetic and theoretical angles. However, no matter which lens In Dubious Battle is viewed through, it is certainly a mistake to attribute the novel’s enduring appeal and value to its depiction of a migrant apple pickers’ strike typical of the 1930s. In its concern with the human dilemmas regarding the nature of power, personal freedom, and degree of responsibility and commitment, it is as powerful today as it was when it was written.
John Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath
A collection of seven critical essays on Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath arranged in chronological order of publication.
Cultivated Power: Flowers, Culture, and Politics in the Reign of Louis XIV
Ch. 1. Disorderly flowers Floral seduction: death, sex, and flowers Trading on the power of flowers Ch. 2. Refashioning the culture of flowers in early modern France Curiosity and flowers The sweet society of the curious florists Ch. 3. Cultivating the flower The florists' flowers Unlocking the door to the temple of flora Ch. 4. Cultivating the man The theater of the goddess of flowers Nature into art "Jardin d'Hyver," or flowers in print Ch. 5. Cultivating the king Royal precedents Flowers in the garden of Louis XIV Floral mercantilism Flowers and the "Histoire du Roi" Appendices A. Extract of the inventory by ... Sieur Cottereau of flowering plants and bulbs that he offers to furnish for the gardens of the royal households B. Plants included in Jean Donneau de Vise's Histoire de Louis le Grand