The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.0737  Monday, 10 April 2000.

From:           Kevin De Ornellas <
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Date:           Wednesday, 05 Apr 2000 15:48:54 GMT
Subject:        Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates has just published a massive (738 pages) novel,
'BLONDE', based on Marilyn Monroe's life (Fourth Estate, 2000).
According to Elaine Showalter's review-title in April's 'Literary
Review' (pp. 24-5), the work is an 'Epic Fairy Tale Told as a
Shakespearian Tragedy'.  (I have not seen the book myself).  Showalter
goes on to state that: 'Structurally, the novel is designed to mirror
Shakespearian tragedy, being divided into five parts, or acts, dedicated
to the Shakespearian critic Michael Goldman [...] and framed throughout
by epigraphs on acting by Stanislavsky and others'.  Throughout the
'BLONDE' review, Showalter lavishes praise on what she perceives to be
'a mighty - and mesmerising - book'.

Kevin De Ornellas B.A., M.A.