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BL
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| Record Number
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862751
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| Main Entry
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Smit, David
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| Title & Author
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Power and class in political fiction : : elite theory and the post-war Washington novel /\ David Smit.
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| Publication Statement
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Cham, Switzerland :: Palgrave Macmillan,, [2019]
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| Page. NO
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1 online resource
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| ISBN
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3030267695
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: 9783030267698
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9783030267681
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| Bibliographies/Indexes
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Includes bibliographical references and index.
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| Contents
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Intro; Acknowledgements; Contents; Chapter 1: Introduction; The Political Novel; The Washington Novel; Elite Theory and Ruling Elites; References; Chapter 2: Class Consciousness in Late-Twentieth-Century America; Post-War Working-Class Consciousness; Post-War Ruling-Class Consciousness; References; Chapter 3: Elite Theory and the American Political Directorate; A Brief History of Elite Theory; Contemporary American Elite Theory; Class and the Elite; Power; References; Chapter 4: Gore Vidal's Washington, D.C.: Maintaining Legitimacy; References
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Chapter 5: Allen Drury's Advise and Consent: Moderate Ruling-Elite IdeologyReferences; Chapter 6: Joan Didion's Democracy: Moderate Ruling-Elite Constituencies; References; Chapter 7: Ward Just's Echo House: Implementing Policy/Accepting Others; References; Chapter 8: Conclusion; The Cultural Problem; The Political Problem; References; Index
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| Abstract
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This book introduces Elite Theory to the literary study of class as a framework for addressing issues of the nature of governance in political fiction. The book describes the historical development and major tenets of Elite Theory, and shows how each of four post-war Washington novels--Gore Vidals Washington, D.C.; Allen Drurys Advise and Consent; Joan Didions Democracy; and Ward Justs Echo House--illustrates the way class-based political elites exhibit forms of "ruling-class consciousness" and maintain their legitimacy in an ostensibly democratic form of government by promoting themselves as models of behavior, promulgating an ideology that justifies their rule through their control of the media, and accepting new members from the lower classes. Reading these novels through a socio-political lens, David Smit offers suggestions for ways to work for a more just and equitable society in light of what this analysis reveals about the "culture" that produces our political elites.
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| Subject
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Political fiction, American-- History and criticism.
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| Subject
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Power (Social sciences) in literature.
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Social classes in literature.
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| Subject
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Political fiction, American.
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| Subject
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Power (Social sciences) in literature.
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| Subject
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Social classes in literature.
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| Dewey Classification
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813.009/358
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| LC Classification
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PS374.P6S65 2019
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