These new critical essays on Wise Blood, Flannery O'Connor's explosive first novel, not only question our understanding of the "Southern Gothic," but launch a new inquiry into the nature and history of O'Connor's critical reputation. Perceived as a "classic" American writer despite the double setbacks of being a woman and a twentieth-century author, O'Connor continues to speak with striking clarity and disturbing vision to successive generations. "This reader is grateful to Michael Kreyling for offering a new critical collection which recognizes that Wise Blood is an even stranger novel that I had thought in 1962. This collection will be invaluable for future study of the novel and of Flannery O'Connor the novelist." The Southern Quarterly "This collection offers a surprising array of critical assessments with many enticing concepts to explore. This series of essyas on Wise Blood certainly fulfills..." Floyd Barnett, Mississippi Quarterly This 1995 volume of critical essays on Wise Blood, Flannery O'Connor's explosive first novelquestions our understanding of the 'Southern Gothic'. Used Book in Good Condition