Sean Latham - "Am I a Snob?" Modernism and the novel

"Am I a Snob?" - Modernism, Snobbery, and the Quest for a Wider Audience

In "Am I a Snob?", Sean Latham embarks on a captivating journey through the literary landscape of modernism, exploring the complex relationship between artistic innovation and the social construct of "the snob." Latham challenges the notion of a stark divide between highbrow and mass culture, arguing that the figure of the snob, far from being a mere caricature, served as a crucial lens for modernist authors in their pursuit of both artistic expression and a wider readership.

Through a masterful analysis of works by literary giants like William Makepeace Thackeray, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and Dorothy Sayers, Latham traces the evolution of the snob from a superficial social climber to a more nuanced, self-aware figure grappling with the complexities of taste and cultural capital. He demonstrates how novelists, both those striving for literary acclaim within a select circle and those seeking a broader audience, found themselves entangled with the very snobbery they sought to critique.

Latham argues that modernist writers, in portraying snobs, were actively engaging with the social and economic forces that shaped their own artistic endeavors. He suggests that snobbery was not merely a byproduct of modernist aesthetic innovation but a fundamental aspect of the cultural marketplace, a marketplace that both celebrated and marginalized artistic endeavors.

By examining the connections between social, economic, and cultural capital, "Am I a Snob?" offers a fresh perspective on modernism, revealing a movement deeply engaged in a struggle to navigate the complexities of artistic success and the desire for a broader audience. The book leaves readers with a profound understanding of the continually evolving nature of snobbery and its impact on the literary landscape.

Sean Latham is an esteemed literary scholar and professor, known for his insightful work on the intersection of literature, culture, and society.