Literature Without Qualities

A Literature Without Qualities: American Writing Since 1945 delves into the evolution of American literature from the post-World War II period to the mid-1970s, examining its transformation as both a product and reflection of a volatile and imaginative epoch. The book situates this era within the broader context of public consciousness, arguing that the period’s literary works are characterized by a provisional nature—tentative in their conclusions yet deeply entwined with the sociopolitical and cultural shifts of the time. The author refrains from defining definitive masterworks or crafting an exhaustive list of acclaimed titles, instead focusing on how this era reshaped the very enterprise of literary creation and critique. This period, marked by a shift in critical self-awareness and creative ambition, reveals American literature grappling with questions of identity, innovation, and its role within an unsettled cultural order.

By blending historical critique, personal reflection, and diagnostic projection, the book examines how the collective consciousness of post-war America influenced its literary production. It explores the interplay between individual creativity and broader cultural forces, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and societal relationships in shaping literary innovation. From the idealistic aspirations of Emerson and Whitman to the more skeptical, politically charged voices of Mailer and Berryman, the book traces a lineage of American writers who viewed literature as a vehicle for societal introspection and transformation. Ultimately, it frames the vitality of literature as inseparable from the vitality of its cultural and social context, offering a nuanced understanding of how American writing navigated the complex realities of its time while laying the groundwork for future creative endeavors.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1979.