San Antonio College Library

Goodin takes a formalistic approach to political expression in the victim-of-society novel, asking the question, how do the formal features of the novel constrain thematic expression? He notes that the writer must balance the protagonist's role as victim against the role as resilient human being capable of dealing with his or her problems. If the protagonist is too strong, both help and reform become unnecessary; if too weak, the situation becomes...

"This first history of prison literature, featuring the first extensive bibliography of works by American convicts, presents a revealing view of America as seen from the bottom. Franklin redefines American literature, its history, and literary criteria. Arguing that Afro-American culture is central rather than peripheral to our literature, Franklin traces the influence of slave songs and narratives from the convict work song through I am a Fugitive...