Bloomsbury Pynchon and Relativity: Narrative Time in Thomas Pynchon's Later Novels (Continuum Literary Studies)

Istime an illusion? Do past, present, and future co-exist in a timelesswhole, or are our experiences of change and duration the reality of time?Thomas Pynchon's writing has always been interested in the interplay of thesetwo ways of thinking about time, but his recent fiction has also taken onthe task of imaginatively responding to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, whichin the early years of the twentieth century renewed this ancient debate. Inthis book, Simon deBourcier looks in detail at Pynchon's 2006 novel Againstthe Day, which is set during the period in which Einstein published hisworld-changing theory, and 1997's Mason & Dixon, set in theeighteenth century when Isaac Newton's picture of a world governed by absolutespace and time was unchallenged. By comparing these two novels, Pynchon andRelativity shows that Pynchon's tales of loss, haunting, and time travelare informed by a sophisticated awareness of the philosophical implications ofRelativity. The book goes on to examine the consequences of this for ourreading of Pynchon's other work. Review "In its consideration of time in all of Pynchon's novels from V. to Inherent Vice, this wide-ranging study deservedly takes its place in the best tradition of Pynchon criticism, moving with ease between literary criticism, philosophy, history and the natural sciences. In particular, the book's elaborate reading of Against the Day is groundbreaking, and this profound pioneering work makes Pynchon and Relativity a monograph no future analysis of that novel can afford to ignore."--Sanford Lakoff"Inits consideration of time in all of Pynchon's novels from V. to Inherent Vice, thiswide-ranging study deservedly takes its place in the best tradition of Pynchoncriticism, moving with ease between literary criticism, philosophy, history andthe natural sciences. In particular, the book's elaborate reading of Against the Day is groundbreaking, andthis profound pioneering work makes Pynchonand Relativity a monograph no future analysis of that novel can afford to ignore."--, About the Author Simon de Bourcier has a degree in English from Trinity College, Cambridge, an MA in English Studies from Anglia Ruskin University, and a PhD from the University of East Anglia, where he has also taught as an Associate Tutor.