Hicks argues convincingly that current American fiction mirrors the cultural fragmentation that has occurred in America since World War II. He proposes that realism is no longer the dominant mode, that the modern American writers he discusses have abandoned public experience and social realism for intensely personal experiences and literary modes of black humor, fable romance, and allegory. This inward retreat to literary subcultures reflects the breakdown of mainstream American culture. Originally published in 1981. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.