A Reader's Guide to John Barth

Barth's complex, controversial models of ideas are interpreted to guide the intelligent first reader through these virtuoso presentations of the narrative process. Explicating the text with attention to published criticism on Barth and to Barth's own published literary theory as well as the theory intrinsic to the novels, Zack Bowen carefully builds an informed perspective on the fiction. Each of the ten major works is considered separately but with references to ideas and patterns discernible in other Barth works. Selected recurring themes and techniques and a biographical note are included in the appendixes. Bowen surveys the most valuable criticism as part of his introduction and provides a substantial bibliography of books and articles on the body of work, the individual works, and Barth's other publications and interviews.