Maximalist and encyclopedic novels in the late 20th century (1960–2000)

1. Barth outlines a postmodern “exhaustion” thesis

   Aug 1, 1967Labels: John Barth, The Literature

   • JHU Exhibit
   • Wikipedia

2. Bakhtin’s “Rabelais” reaches English readers

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: Mikhail Bakhtin, Rabelais and

   • Wikipedia

3. Barth publishes experimental collection “Lost in the Funhouse”

   Sep 27, 1968Labels: John Barth, Lost in

   • Kirkus
   • Wikipedia

4. Pynchon publishes “Gravity’s Rainbow”

   Mar 14, 1973Labels: Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow

   • Wikipedia
   • Morgan Library

5. Gaddis publishes the dialogue-driven novel “J R”

   Oct 12, 1975Labels: William Gaddis, J R

   • Morgan Library
   • Wikipedia

6. Mendelson defines “encyclopedic narrative” as a category

   Dec 1, 1976Labels: Edward Mendelson, Encyclopedic Narrative

   • JSTOR
   • Postmodern Culture

7. Calvino releases “If on a winter’s night a traveler”

   Jan 1, 1979Labels: Italo Calvino, If on

   • Wikipedia

8. Eco publishes “The Name of the Rose”

   Jan 1, 1980Labels: Umberto Eco, The Name

   • Wikipedia
   • Washington Post

9. Bakhtin’s “Dialogic Imagination” appears in English

   Jan 1, 1982Labels: Mikhail Bakhtin, Dialogic Imagination

   • UT Press
   • Wikipedia

10. Eco publishes the conspiracy-saturated “Foucault’s Pendulum”

    Oct 1, 1988Labels: Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum

    • Wikipedia

11. Wallace publishes “Infinite Jest” with extensive endnotes

    Feb 1, 1996Labels: David Foster, Infinite Jest

    • Wikipedia

12. Pynchon releases historical epic “Mason & Dixon”

    Apr 30, 1997Labels: Thomas Pynchon, Mason &

    • Wikipedia

13. DeLillo publishes Cold War panorama “Underworld”

    Oct 3, 1997Labels: Don DeLillo, Underworld

    • Wikipedia

14. Wood labels a backlash: “hysterical realism” critique

    Jul 24, 2000Labels: James Wood, Hysterical Realism

    • New Republic