It is difficult to write in praise of James Gould Cozzens in a post-modern era that venerates so much of what Cozzens held so actively in contempt. He had little regard for modernist masters such as Hemingway and Faulkner, whose work characterised so much of their age. If one listens to Cozzens's pronouncements, both literary and political, one might associate him most with the bestselling novelists of his time and deem him unworthy of serious consideration altogether. And yet his 40-year career defies such easy categorisation. Biographer Matthew J. Bruccoli characterised him as “the least-read major novelist in the United States”. It is an apt description. Cozzens's style is opaque, and his approach anti-sensationalist. His most f…
2116 words
Citation: MacDonald, James. "James Gould Cozzens". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 June 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1051, accessed 25 November 2024.]
