Understanding Fred Chappell

"In this comprehensive analysis of Chappell's body of work, John Lang critiques more than twenty volumes of poetry and fiction published during a literary career that has spanned nearly four decades. This study identifies and explores the principal influences on the writer, his major themes, and his use of humor as a counterbalance to the gravity of his moral vision.". "Lang evaluates Chappell's major works, including the four novels preceding Midquest, the first five volumes of poetry, the remarkably different books of poems published between Castle Tzingal and Spring Garden: New and Selected Poems, and the two collections of short stories. An investigation of the varied connections between and achievements of the Kirkman tetralogy and Midquest concludes this analysis."--BOOK JACKET.