부산대학교 도서관

In this excellent contribution to the study of literature and of the sociology of culture, Childress (sociology, Univ. of Toronto) situates a specific cultural object—Cornelia Nixon's novel Jarrettsville (2009)—within the many contexts responsible for its birth and integration into the social fabric. In so doing, he reasserts the social nature of cultural products, a claim at the cornerstone of sociology as a discipline. Attending to the historical forces that have shaped conditions for authors, publishers, and readers, the author offers a robust view of how a novel comes into existence and the myriad influences that determine its shelf life. He pays attention to historical detail, and the methodological approaches he utilizes (extensive interviews with the author; conversations with agents, editors, and publishers; reader surveys) convey the importance of considering works of art at the nexus of various social fields. Less clear to this reviewer is why Jarrettsville is the novel to provide this insight, but perhaps Childress wishes to point out that any text has a unique story. Regardless, this work is interesting as a study of the evolving role of literature in modern life, and sociologists will learn from its unique approach to analyzing cultural products. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.