The introductory chapter of Castronovo’s book gives the reader a clear idea of what the rest of the book is about. It explains that Castronovo will look at American post-war works; specifically those produced between 1946 and 1961. he further defined this period, and the works within this period, as falling between two events: starting in 1946 with Wyler’s movie “The Best Years of Our Lives”, and ending in 1961 with JFK’s inaugural address.
Castronovo first defines the works he will look at by differentiating them from the works of the world war ii years. He says “There’s no mistaking these books for the ones of the World War II years.” (9) The distinguishing factor in the books he will examine is their “new consciousness about everything” from race and personal identity,- to the condition of the suburbs and the content of the American mind” (9). According to Castronovo, these works make up a “remarkable literary explosion” of “landmark works that are breakthroughs in American literature”; also because these landmark works have “given us images and characters and scenes that are a permanent part of our heritage” (9). He says that these works can now be considered “great” because they have become a “part of the collective life of our civilization.” Which means they are timeless and have in some way shaped and influenced American culture up to today. He also says these works represent the beginning of many cultural forms and trends that are still found today: “They represent a mid-century awakening to new forms and new objects and are brought together because they have long-range value for readers in the twenty-first century” (9).
Castronovo then makes a distinction between two levels of works in this period: the landmark works described above and the books that appeared on the bestseller lists during those years. The former works have had lasing effects, while the latter “have had limited staying power” (9). The former are ageless works because they have...