The Cambridge Companion to Don DeLillo »

John Duvall is Professor of English and American Studies at Purdue University, Indiana.

An overview of the works and career of the postmodern American author of White Noise and Underworld.

Chronology of DeLillo's life and work

Introduction The power of history and the persistence of mystery John N. Duvall Duvall, John N. 1

Pt. I Aesthetic and Cultural Influences 11

1 DeLillo and modernism Philip Nel Nel, Philip 13

2 DeLillo, postmodernism, postmodernity Peter Knight Knight, Peter 27

Pt. II Early Fiction 41

3 DeLillo and media culture Peter Boxall Boxall, Peter 43

4 DeLillo's apocalyptic satires Joseph Dewey Dewey, Joseph 53

5 DeLillo and the political thriller Tim Engles Engles, Tim 66

Pt. III Major Novels 77

6 White Noise Stacey Olster Olster, Stacey 79

7 Libra Jeremy Green Green, Jeremy 94

8 Underworld Patrick O'Donnell O'Donnell, Patrick 108

Pt. IV Themes and Issues 123

9 DeLillo and masculinity Ruth Helyer Helyer, Ruth 125

10 DeLillo's Dedalian artists Mark Osteen Osteen, Mark 137

11 DeLillo and the power of language David Cowart Cowart, David 151

12 DeLillo and mystery John A. McCLure McCLure, John A. 166

Conclusion: Writing amid the ruins: 9/11 and Cosmopolis Joseph M. Conte Conte, Joseph M. 179

Select bibliography 193

Guide to further reading 195

Index 199