This idea — that one person, and only one person, in any given generation can possess the intellectual prowess, creative might, emotional intelligence and writing chops to produce a novel that speaks truth about the disparate American whole — is pure hogwash.
For the NYT Book Review, Cheryl Strayed (aka our very own Sugar) and Adam Kirsch share their opinions on the Great American Novel, whether it even exists, and why we’re still obsessed with it.
