The Apprenticeship Writings of Frank Norris, 1896-1898

Book excerpt: Frank Norris (1870-1902) has long been recognized by cultural historians as a "touchstone" figure, clearly signaling in 1899 the emergence of an Amer. school of Literary Naturalism. "McTeague: A Story of San Francisco" secured this honor for him that year as it registered more fully than any previous Amer. novel the Darwinian view of life that is the essential characteristic of all subsequent Naturalistic fictions. It thus marked as well the rejection of the Victorian Era's habitually idealistic representations of human nature and its basically religious world-view, offering instead a post-metaphysical portrait of the human condition that has remained popular in 20th-cent. literary and intellectual circles. Includes all of the known writings of Norris published between 11 April 1896 and 1897. Illus.