Re-Covering Modernism: Pulps, Paperbacks, and the Prejudice of Form

In his nuanced exploration of the publishing and marketing of modernist works, David M. Earle questions how and why modernist literature came to be viewed as the exclusive purview of a cultural elite given its availability in such popular forums. As he examines sensational and popular manifestations of modernism, as well as their reception by critics and readers, Earle provides a methodology for reconciling formerly separate or contradictory materialist, cultural, visual, and modernist approaches to avant-garde literature. Central to Earle’s innovative approach is his consideration of the physical aspects of the books and magazines – covers, dust wrappers, illustrations, cost – which become texts in their own right. Richly illustrated and accessibly written, Earle’s study shows that modernism emerged in a publishing ecosystem that was both richer and more complex than has been previously documented.