''Carpenter's Gothic'' is the title of the third novel by American writer William Gaddis, published in 1985 by

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. The title connotes a "Gothic" tale of haunted isolation, in a milieu stripped of all pretensions. Gaddis's second-shortest novel, ''Carpenter's Gothic'' relates the words and occasional actions, in one house, of an ex-soldier, Confederate apologist, and

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; his neglected and ineffectual wife; and a visitor with a mysterious past who resembles in many ways Gaddis himself. The book is notable mainly for its strict fugue-like nature, as each character pursues his own themes in conversation and in action, often without reference to anything said or done by the others. __NOTOC__

Reception and criticism

Writing for the ''

Los Angeles Review of Books The ''Los Angeles Review of Books'' (''LARB'' is a literary review magazine covering the national and international book scenes. A preview version launched on Tumblr in April 2011, and the official website followed one year later in April 201 ...

'', Greg Gerke referred to the book as " ittingperfectly with the other three novels as one long scroll of words." Gerke refers to the other Gaddis books ''

The Recognitions ''The Recognitions'' is the 1955 debut novel of American author William Gaddis. The novel was initially poorly received by critics. After Gaddis won a National Book Award in 1975 for his second novel, ''J R'', his first work gradually received ...

'', '' J R'', and '' A Frolic of His Own''.

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reviewed the novel favorably in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', highlighting, among other things, Gaddis' ability to create different "voices" and his use of different dialogue. Ozick referred to the work as "...an unholy landmark of a novel - an extra turret added on to the ample, ingenious, audacious Gothic mansion William Gaddis has slowly been building in American letters."

''The New York Times'' attribution

In a mention of the book, ''

'' credited the work to another American writer and novelist, William H. Gass. Gass wrote a humorous, though critical, letter to the editor about the mistake, and concluded by asking that the ''Times'' attribute John Hawkes' then-upcoming novel '' Adventures in the Alaskan Skin Trade'' to him as well.

Quote

* "Finally realize you can't leave things better than you found them the best you can do is try not to leave them any worse . . ." (p. 230)

External links

Annotations to ''Carpenter's Gothic'' at williamgaddis.org

References

1985 American novels Postmodern novels Novels by William Gaddis Viking Press books American gothic novels PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction–winning works {{postmodern-novel-stub