From the innovative and astonishingly insightful mind of Jesse H. McKnight, Chaplin, Joyce, Melville-Roots and Branches of the Modern Mind uses a spellbinding combination of astute research and articulate argument to discover the creative seeds of the singularly imaginative minds of three great men.
Students of film or literature may feel as if everything has already been unearthed regarding these important artists. However, McKnight forges entirely new connections among three seemingly disparate notables, acting as our guide and exposing every captivating link we never knew existed.
What begins as an analysis of James Joyce's and Charlie Chaplin's influence on modernism quickly delves into the history of clowning, and soon, it all links to Herman Melville's body of work. McKnight cleverly examines the ways in which each of these men's creative works interlock and influence one another, a masterful puzzle of wit and intrigue only McKnight can solve. This groundbreaking collection of essays uncovers compelling scraps of evidence that will delight-and possibly infuriate-the experts.
Written with astonishing vision, Chaplin, Joyce, Melville-Roots and Branches of the Modern Mind is a must-read for all those looking to broaden their literary horizons.
About the Author: Jesse H. McKnight earned a BA in English and German from Florida State University, where he graduated magna cum laude (and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa) in 1969. McKnight went on to receive his master's in English from Auburn University, and though he did not walk, he completed all PhD requirements in English at Kent State University.
McKnight's writing has appeared in various scholarly publications including James Joyce Quarterly, the Journal of Melville Studies, and Hypermedia Joyce, as well as numerous other journals throughout Great Britain and the United States. In 2012, McKnight published a chapbook of poetry.
McKnight is a third-generation resident of Florida, where he lives with his wife of forty-three years, fabric artist and designer Genette McKnight. They have three children and eleven grandchildren.
