Southern Accents: The Fiction of Peter Taylor

This book is a thorough critical analysis of the novels and short stories of Peter Hillsman Taylor. The focus is upon the identification and exploration of Taylor’s major the effects of heritage upon the individual, the initiation experiences that lead to self-discovery, the conflict between tradition and change, the struggle for power and identity, and the influence of place and the past. The author demonstrates how the fiction articulates Taylor’s identity as a modern Southerner from a traditional, affluent family, and she defines Taylor’s place in the Southern literary tradition. Students, teachers, and fans of American literature and particularly of contemporary Southern fiction will appreciate this insightful book.