Andrei Codrescu and the Myth of America (Paperback)

Kirby Olson

ISBN 10: 0786421371 / ISBN 13: 9780786421374

Published by McFarland & Co Inc, Jefferson, NC, 2005

About this Item

Paperback. "This is one of those times, a time choked in the weeds of academic and civilian formalism. To put it mildly, most of what we see in print in North America is unbearably trivial and singularly devoid of courage."--Andrei Codrescu, The Disappearance of the Outside. Known to the general public as a radio commentator on National Public Radio, Romanian-born essayist and poet Andrei Codrescu has developed a variety of voices throughout his career: Transylvanian humorist on NPR, surrealist poet in his many volumes of poetry, academic essayist in his philosophical writings and historical novelist. Taking seemingly everyday events in seemingly mundane places, Codrescu is able to link the random details into a larger whole, leading his readers and listeners to conclusions very different from those they first imagined. This work explores Codrescu's writings and how they are a part of the surrealist tradition. It examines the ways in which his poetry, essays and novels are influenced by his upbringing in Communist Romania and the liberal attitudes he encountered upon moving to the United States, and draws comparisons between Codrescu and other surrealists. An interview with the author is also included. Known to the general public as a radio commentator on National Public Radio, Romanian-born essayist and poet Andrei Codrescu has developed a variety of voices throughout his career. This work explores Codrescu's writings and how they are a part of the surrealist tradition. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780786421374

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Andrei Codrescu and the Myth of America (Paperback)
• Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc, Jefferson, NC
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786421371
• ISBN 13: 9780786421374
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

"This is one of those times, a time choked in the weeds of academic and civilian formalism. To put it mildly, most of what we see in print in North America is unbearably trivial and singularly devoid of courage."--Andrei Codrescu, The Disappearance of the Outside.

Known to the general public as a radio commentator on National Public Radio, Romanian-born essayist and poet Andrei Codrescu has developed a variety of voices throughout his career: Transylvanian humorist on NPR, surrealist poet in his many volumes of poetry, academic essayist in his philosophical writings and historical novelist. Taking seemingly everyday events in seemingly mundane places, Codrescu is able to link the random details into a larger whole, leading his readers and listeners to conclusions very different from those they first imagined. This work explores Codrescu's writings and how they are a part of the surrealist tradition. It examines the ways in which his poetry, essays and novels are influenced by his upbringing in Communist Romania and the liberal attitudes he encountered upon moving to the United States, and draws comparisons between Codrescu and other surrealists. An interview with the author is also included.

About the Author

Kirby Olson is associate professor of humanities at the State University of New York in Delhi. He is the editor of To Wit: Official Newsletter of the American Humor Studies Association.