A Dangerous Crossing

While there has been a great deal written about the influence of French existentialism on modern fiction, Le­han’s new book is strikingly different from other interpretations. With over twenty-five articles published on the topic, Lehan is an authority on the subject and an expert in American literature. He brings to this exciting new approach a knowledge and an awareness of the reciprocal influence of French philosophers and American novelists never before shown.

As he moves from Nietzsche’s super­man to Heller’s functionaries, Lehan presents the complete chronology as well as the full spectacle of literary existentialism. Exceptionally well writ­ten, his book is especially valuable for the clear perspective he thus provides.

Richard Lehan is Professor of English and Chairman of the Department of English at the University of California at Los Angeles. His previous books in­clude F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Craft of Fiction and Theodore Dreiser: His World and His Novels.