Is This a Golden Age of Crime Fiction?
I believe it is. For one thing, writers considered
literary like Joyce Carol Oates and Margaret Atwood choose to write genre
fiction. For another, crime
fiction anthologies such as the Akashic Noir series seek short stories from
poets and acknowledged literary writers to include in their books.
Currently crime writing covers a
multitude of approaches and prose styles, covers many different themes and
sometimes references other literature.
Among authors described as literary are Louise Penny, Daniel Woodrell
and Kate Atkinson. Note: Your list might well differ from mine.
I also think the quality of crime
fiction by itself is sufficient to label the current era as a golden age. Elmore
Leonard, Walter Mosely and Carolyn Hart among others are writers that I believe
will still be read a century from now.
I find it interesting that the very
idea that literary crime fiction exists generates strongly emotional responses
on both the pro and con side of the proposition.
What do you think?
This is so interesting, Warren. It may be the Golden Age of crime fiction which is an exciting thought. I predict that some of today's authors will still be read in the future and a few stories made into movies.
ReplyDeleteCrime fiction probably always has been with us, in stories told around the campfire, and probably always will be, but you're right, Warren. At this point the genre is being taken pretty seriously.
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