When From Here to Eternity appeared in 1951, observers immediately placed Jones among what Philip Rahv called the "redskins" of American literature, like Twain, Dreiser, Hemingway, and Steinbeck, self-made writers who "draw their metaphors from biology rather than literature." Working in the grim naturalistic tradition that grew out of American realism, the "redskins" saw man as a victim trodden down by inexorable natural and social forces, which for Jones seemed limited to the context of the Army. Like Dreiser, Jones tended to pile detail upon sordid detail, limited to some extent in From Here to Eternity by the standards of the 1950s. Like Dreiser, too, Jones seemed unable to focus his scenes tightly or to penetrate beyond surface realities. Like.....
This is a free excerpt of 119 words. This section contains 235 words. This
Short Guide contains 1,995 words (approx. 7 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Short Guide with our From Here to Eternity Access Pass.
