"A truly 'contemporary' study . . . remarkably up-to-date. . . . Each of the individual articles represents a genuine contribution to knowledge."--Charles A. Porter, Yale University"Invaluable to readers wishing to familiarize themselves with the wide array of novels that have been published in France since the advent of the New Novel in the 1950s.  For Anglo-American readers who may not have easy access to events on the contemporary French literary scene, this work will be especially useful and instructive."--Leah D. Hewitt, Amherst CollegeThese essays provide an overview of the novel form in contemporary France through analyses of the works of novelists who have been at the forefront of French letters since 1960.  Written by twentieth-century French literature specialists, the essays focus on individual authors who for the most part continue to contribute to French letters and whose place in the French literary scene is firmly established.  Contents Introduction. The Contemporary Novel in France: A Generation of Writing and Criticism, by William Thompson I. Continuing "Traditions" and Changing Styles Autobiographical Fictions, by Raylene Ramsay Julien Green, by Robert Stanley Julien Gracq, by Michel Viegnes Marguerite Duras, by Thomas Broden Robert Pinget, by Robert Henkels II. Innovations in Language and Form Philippe Sollers, by Katherine C. Kurk Jean Ricardou, by Tobin Jones Jacques Roubaud, by Susan Ireland Hélène Cixous, by Martine Motard-Noar Jean Echenoz, by William Cloonan III. Writing, History, and Myth Elie Wiesel, by Jack Kolbert Andrée Chedid, by Debbie Mann Michel Tournier, by Susan Petit Patrick Modiano, by Katheryn Wright Monique Wittig, by Laurence M. Porter IV. New Narratives, New Traditions Benoîte Groult, by Catherine Slawy-Sutton Dominique Fernandez, by Marie-Thérèse Noiset Yann Queffélec, by Paul Raymond Côté Patrick Drevet, by Gervais Reed Jean-Philippe Toussaint, by Roy C. Caldwell William Thompson is assistant professor of French at the University of Memphis.  He is an editor of the annual<i> French XX Bibliography</i> and has published articles and reviews in <i>LIT: Literature, Interpretation, Theory; Tennessee Philological Bulletin;</i> and <i>The French Review.</i> Read Less