The Genteel John O Hara

The writer John O'Hara (1905-1970) came from Pottsville in Pennsylvania. He put his home town and the surrounding vicinity under a microscope to produce an account of 'The Anthracite Region' that rivals Edith Wharton's descriptions of New York and Sinclair Lewis's anatomy of Sauk Centre. With the discerning eye of a local resident, O'Hara recreated this coal-rich region and its people so well that his novelettes, novellas, novels, plays and short stories give a true record of his 'Pennsylvania Protectorate' in the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. In order to reveal the ethnographical, geographical and historical authenticity of the O'Hara Canon, this book examines his writings in the context of Pottsville and the borough of Tamaqua, as well as the nearby towns and villages. The author also investigates both O'Hara's genteel upbringing and his gangster stratum. The book explores the many dimensions of O'Hara's life from the time of his birth until his escape to New York City in 1928. New sources such as unpublished letters and interviews with O'Hara's family, friends and enemies provide important insights into O'Hara, as well as into Pottsville and the surrounding region.

Autorentext

The Author: Pamela C. Mac Arthur holds a Master s degree in American and Canadian History from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. After completing a thesis entitled `John O Hara: A Biographical Study , she was awarded her D.Phil. in 1999 by the School of English and American Studies at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

Klappentext

The writer John O Hara (1905-1970) came from Pottsville in Pennsylvania. He put his home town and the surrounding vicinity under a microscope to produce an account of The Anthracite Region that rivals Edith Wharton s descriptions of New York and Sinclair Lewis s anatomy of Sauk Centre. With the discerning eye of a local resident, O Hara recreated this coal-rich region and its people so well that his novelettes, novellas, novels, plays and short stories give a true record of his Pennsylvania Protectorate in the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. In order to reveal the ethnographical, geographical and historical authenticity of the O Hara Canon, this book examines his writings in the context of Pottsville and the borough of Tamaqua, as well as the nearby towns and villages. The author also investigates both O Haräs genteel upbringing and his gangster stratum. The book explores the many dimensions of O Haräs life from the time of his birth until his escape to New York City in 1928. New sources such as unpublished letters and interviews with O Haräs family, friends and enemies provide important insights into O Hara, as well as into Pottsville and the surrounding region.

Inhalt

Contents: O Hara in the Spawning Grounds of Pennsylvania O Haräs Genteel Upper Class in The Anthracite Region O Haräs Gangster Stratum inLantenengo County O Hara: The Gentleman, Ethnographer, Geographer and Social Historian Aftermath.