The American Road Novel: Mobility and Meaning During the Great Depression

The American Road Novel: Mobility and Meaning During the Great Depression by Dean Wallace examines the profound role that the road plays in shaping the personal and collective experiences of individuals during the 1930s. Focusing on key works of American literature from this period, the book explores how the road serves as both a literal path and a metaphorical journey for characters navigating poverty, social upheaval, and the elusive promise of the American Dream. Drawing on the experiences of migrant families, disenfranchised workers, and marginalized groups, Wallace delves into how the road becomes a site of resistance, rebellion, transformation, and, often, disillusionment.
Through in-depth analysis of novels such as John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Richard Wright's Native Son, and Jack Kerouac's On the Road, the book interrogates the complex intersections of race, class, gender, and identity as characters struggle to carve out meaning in a world marked by inequality and economic collapse. The road, as depicted in these narratives, is not just a route toward opportunity or escape but a place where the contradictions of American society are both revealed and confronted. Wallace's work critically engages with the tension between the promise of mobility and the harsh realities of systemic oppression, making it a vital exploration of both literary history and the ongoing relevance of the American road in shaping the national consciousness.