Critics have long recognized the links between community festivals and literary art. The comedies and tragedies of the ancient Greeks grew out of their festivals; Anglo-Saxon poetry was often read at festival occasions; and the structural patterns of renaissance drama are inseparable from their festive origins. In The Life of the Party, Christopher Ames argues that the private party has become the festival of modern culture and has served as a shaping force in the fiction of many important twentieth century writers.

Drawing upon and extending theories of Mikhail Bakhtin and others, Ames contends that parties have inherited much of the spirit and social function of festivals and carnivals. In these “controlled transgressions,” ordinary rules of behavior are set aside for a short time, permitting excess and including (usually in veiled form) a ritual encounter with death, as well as a cathartic return to the normal social order when the party ends.

In the experimental fiction of James Joyce and Virginia Wolf, the mingling of many voices at the party challenges both social and narrative decorum. For F. Scott Fitzgerald, Evelyn Waugh, and Henry Green, the party becomes a microcosm of a decadent society and informs a festive vision characteristic of the literature that emerged between the wars. And in postmodern works by Thomas Pynchon and Robert Coover, the novelists celebrate the disruptive and liberating force of parties even as they illustrate the dangers of chaos through scenes of the party-gone-wild.

With its creative application of literary theory and ethnographic studies of festival, The Life of the Party demonstrates the persistence of the festive vision and its significance in the evolution of modern fiction.

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER AMES is provost and dean of the college at Washington College. He is the author of Movies about the Movies: Hollywood Reflected.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

GreatBookPrices.com is your top source for finding new books at the absolute lowest prices, guaranteed ! We offer big discounts - everyday - on millions of titles in virtually any category, from Architecture to Zoology -- and everything in between. Discover great deals and super-savings, on professional books, text book titles, the newest computer guides, or your favorite fiction authors. You'll find it all - at HUGE SAVINGS - at GreatBookPrices. Browse through our complete online product catalog today. Serving customers around the world for years, we help thousands find just the books they're looking for -- at incredibly low, bargain prices.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Far Corner Europe Limited
19-20 Bourne Court, 19-20 Bourne Court, Woodford Green, IG8 8HD, United Kingdom

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Company Name: GreatBookPricesUK
Legal Entity: Far Corner Europe Limited
Address: 19-20 Bourne Court, Southend Road, Woodford Green Essex, UK IG8 8HD
Registration #: 10691061
Authorized representative: Danielle Hainsey

Shipping Terms

Our warehouses across the globe are fully operational without substantial delays. We are working hard and continue to overcome the daily challenges presented by COVID-19. There have been reports that delivery carriers are experiencing large delays resulting in longer than normal deliveries to customers. See USPS's website for further detail. We would like to apologize in advance if your item arrives later than the expected delivery due date.

Internal processing of your order will take about 1-2 business days. Please allow an additional 4-14 business days for Media Mail delivery. We have multiple ship-from locations - MD,IL,NJ,UK,IN,NV,TN & GA

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Order quantity	10 to 30 business days	10 to 27 business days
First item	US$ 19.86	US$ 19.86

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.