The art of looking back : Joan Didion and American nostalgia /
"In The Art of Looking Back, Maggie McKinley evaluates the complex nature of nostalgia in the canon of Joan Didion, a theme that has often been taken for granted, oversimplified, and misunderstood. In reassessing this fraught concept, McKinley emphasizes the productive rather than regressive or...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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Baton Rouge :
Louisiana State University Press,
[2026]
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| Summary: | "In The Art of Looking Back, Maggie McKinley evaluates the complex nature of nostalgia in the canon of Joan Didion, a theme that has often been taken for granted, oversimplified, and misunderstood. In reassessing this fraught concept, McKinley emphasizes the productive rather than regressive or escapist qualities of nostalgia in Didion's work, highlighting its role as a critical tool used to dissect cultural myths and understand individual identity. McKinley's contextualized analysis offers a nuanced understanding of Didion's views of American history, national rhetoric, hubris, gender politics, grief and loss, and more, underscoring why Didion's writing remains deeply relevant as a cultural touchstone in the twenty-first century"-- Provided by publisher. |
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| Physical Description: | vii, 194 pages : 24 cm |
| Awards: | Winner of the 2026 Lewis P. Simpson Award. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780807186091 0807186090 |