Gorra, Michael

Faulkner once famously said, “The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past,” and this exceptional study by Gorra lends credence to these words. A worthy addition to Faulkner studies, and for larger Southern literature and Civil War collections.

Gorra's detailed yet expansive examination of all factors relating to the creation and import of James's masterpiece makes this obligatory reading for James fans and scholars, though Gorra assumes a familiarity with other period writers that some James readers—such as the many college students assigned to read Portrait each year—may not have. Strongly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, 1/30/12.]