Jonathan franzen new yorker

You're referring to Jonathan Franzen's famous essay "Perchance to Dream: In the Spring a Young Man's Fancy Turns to Love" published in The New Yorker in 1996.

In this essay, Franzen, a prominent American novelist and essayist, critiques the literary establishment and the state of contemporary American literature. He argues that the literary world has become too focused on identity politics, multiculturalism, and experimental forms, and that this has led to a decline in the quality and relevance of American literature.

Franzen's essay sparked a heated debate in the literary world, with many writers and critics defending the diversity and innovation of contemporary American literature. However, Franzen's critique also resonated with many readers who felt that the literary establishment had become too fragmented and self-referential.

The essay is often seen as a precursor to Franzen's novel "The Corrections" (2001), which explores the decline of the American middle class and the tensions between individualism and community. Franzen's work is known for its nuanced exploration of American culture, politics, and society, and his essays and novels often grapple with the complexities of modern American life.

Do you have a particular interest in Franzen's work or the literary debates surrounding his essay?