Critique de Choice

In his labored discussions of various modernisms in fiction that "address public life and collective welfare," Caserio (Temple Univ.) notes the presence of "tychism." The author borrows this uninviting term derived from Greek (meaning "chance") from US philosopher Charles Peirce, who argues that chance, existing objectively in the universe, provides "freedom" because of its "indeterminacy." Caserio devotes much space to Joseph Conrad's Chance (which, of course, supports his theoretical formulation), less attention to his Nostromo, and none to Lord Jim or The Secret Agent. Likewise, he excludes Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse (presumably because it does not fit his design) and D.H. Lawrence's major works Women in Love and The Plumed Serpent and H.G. Wells's Tono-Bungay, which the author merely cites parenthetically. However, Caserio gives a distinctly minor figure, Ronald Firbank, much more space than he deserves. In his preface to this densely written revisionist study, the author writes that his book is written for "general readers" and "students"; but his graceless prose (with its postmodern jargon) and his exclusion of major novels will alienate rather than attract most readers. Not recommended. K. Beckson Brooklyn College, CUNY