The Novel Now

The Novel Now is an intelligent and engaging survey of contemporary British fiction.

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• Discusses familiar names such as Martin Amis, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, and Angela Carter and compares them with more recent authors, including David Mitchell, Ali Smith, A.L. Kennedy, Matt Thorne, Nicola Barker, and Toby Litt
  
• Incorporates original coverage of subgenres such as chick lit, lad lit, gay fiction, crime fiction, and the historical novel
  
• Discusses the ways in which notions of regional identity and tribalist views have surfaced in UK and Irish fiction, and how post-Imperial sensibility has become a feature of the ‘British’ novel
  
• Situates contemporary fiction within its socio-cultural and literary contexts.

“"This survey of a vast field is elegantly managed, with agreeable readings along the way."The Guardian"Bradford is formidable, bracing and wildly stimulating"The Telegraph"The Novel Now shows that Richard Bradford is a very sharp and unillusioned critic; that he is his own man."Martin AmisPraise for Richard Bradford's previous works:For Lucky Him: The Life of Kingsley Amis"sharp and convincing... written with magisterial skill"The Daily Telegraph"perceptive... intelligent... written with an unstrident ease and sympathy that would surely have pleased his subject" The SpectatorFor First Boredom, Then Fear: The Life of Philip Larkin"quite the best book [on him] yet to appear... a masterful analysis... Bradford is in such complete command of his subject matter, nothing escapes him. It is as if he has had access to Larkin's very thought processes. A great biography of a great artistic genius. Utterly magnificent"The Daily Express"extraordinary... quite the best thing to appear on Larkin in ages"The London Evening Standard”

“It is keenly aware and neatly arranged in examining individual authors and their unique qualities while also tracing connecting threads within the many works of the British novel. Bradford … also establishes deep contexts for his work and the works he examines.” (Evelyn Waugh Newsletter And Studies)

"This survey of a vast field is elegantly managed, with agreeable readings along the way." (The Guardian)

"Bradford is formidable, bracing and wildly stimulating" (The Telegraph)

Praise for Richard Bradford’s previous works:

For Lucky Him: The Life of Kingsley Amis
"sharp and convincing… written with magisterial skill" (The Daily Telegraph)

"perceptive… intelligent… written with an unstrident ease and sympathy that would surely have pleased his subject" (The Spectator)

For First Boredom, Then Fear: The Life of Philip Larkin

"quite the best book [on him] yet to appear… a masterful analysis… Bradford is in such complete command of his subject matter, nothing escapes him. It is as if he has had access to Larkin’s very thought processes. A great biography of a great artistic genius. Utterly magnificent" (The Daily Express)

"extraordinary… quite the best thing to appear on Larkin in ages" (The London Evening Standard)

Richard Bradford is Professor of English at the University of Ulster. He has published 14 books on a variety of topics, from Milton to literary theory to post-war British literature. His recent biographies of Kingsley Amis (Lucky Him: The Life of Kingsley Amis, 2001) and Philip Larkin (First Boredom, Then Fear: The Life of Philip Larkin, 2005) have received excellent reviews.

The Novel Now is a scrupulous and entertaining account of what has happened to British fiction since 1970. It exposes pretentious and self-indulgent writers and celebrates those novelists whose qualities are exceptional. The book will show that enjoyment and critical scrutiny are not mutually exclusive activities; it is designed to appeal both to general readers and scholars.

Richard Bradford examines both emerging and celebrated authors, considering the work of rising literary stars and weighing their merits against more established figures. Through rigorous evaluation and reflection, the author takes a look at where literature has been, and where it is going. Incorporating coverage of subgenres such as ‘chick lit’, ‘lad lit’, crime fiction and the historical novel, this volume also examines the ways in which gender, sexuality and sexual orientation have been addressed in fiction over the past three decades.

The Novel Now is a scrupulous and entertaining account of what has happened to British fiction since 1970. It exposes pretentious and self-indulgent writers and celebrates those novelists whose qualities are exceptional. The book will show that enjoyment and critical scrutiny are not mutually exclusive activities; it is designed to appeal both to general readers and scholars. Richard Bradford examines both emerging and celebrated authors, considering the work of rising literary stars and weighing their merits against more established figures. Through rigorous evaluation and reflection, the author takes a look at where literature has been, and where it is going. Incorporating coverage of subgenres such as chick lit , lad lit , crime fiction and the historical novel, this volume also examines the ways in which gender, sexuality and sexual orientation have been addressed in fiction over the past three decades.

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