Someone argued that Siddharta was a romance in that medieval sense because it's got journey, hope, heroism. I was like, "Dude left his wife and kid alone for YEARS. Are you shitting me!?" That's like saying the BIBLE is a romance!
Okay, there's the distinction. Medieval romance is totally different than the current definition of romance novel.
To me, P&P is quintessentially a novel because it simply plays around with the tropes of traditional romance in an entirely new, and much more realistic, context.
ND says certainly Neil Simon is probably the best benchmark for mid-20th century American theatre comedy.
It doesn't have to be American, Kristin, but my core reading list is more light on American writers. (Shakespeare, Atwood, Wilde, Marquez, Byatt, and then the comedy .....). Even my secondary list is light on American writers. But a nice balance of men and women at least. I think the Americans I have on the secondary list might only be Kingsolver so far!
OH Neil Simon might be good! I wonder if he's considered canonical enough to pass the College Board audit?
Cool article on the changing idea of Romance!
I also think I need a new name for my grotesque category. With Dorian Gray, Metamorphosis, Frankenstein, and Jekyll and Hyde it's something not really grotesque. Something like the anti-industrials!
He says to look at Caryl Churchill (though she's British): Cloud 9, Fenn, etc. He says her works tend to defy categorization and would be great to open that discussion. He also says that if you want some late 20th century absurdist comedy, check out Christopher Durang. ND can fill you in more if you're interested.
Hmm......Neil Simon might be the right fit. I skew towards non American Lit. Then at least it's more rounded out between early modern to contemporary. Of course I am light on 17th and 18th century works. But oh well. Heavy on Victorian. unsurprisingly.
AND foregoing anything not already modern. I mean, I'm not addressing Greek or even, really (unless I do Gawain), Medieval.
I like your grotesque list.
Brighton Beach Memoirs might be a good fit.
