Joseph W. Reed

This academic tome avoids much of the jargon and obfuscation that makes much literary discussion from professorial "specialists" in the structure and deconstruction of art so remarkably unappealing for those of us disinclined to wax eloquent only for the bewilderment of grad students. Reed posits the premise that these three American artists, composer Charles Ives, author William Faulkner, and film director John Ford, comprise a triumvirate of like minds and allied artistic purpose. He supports his premise well, and there is a good deal of insight to be had in regard to each of the three men and their works. Ultimately, reading about music, literature, and film is a secondarily enjoyable experience in relation to the experience of the actual work of the artist, but for someone seeking to understand all or any of these creators, this isn't a bad book at all. Whether any of the three would recognize the kinship Reed attributes to them is as interesting a question as any raised in the book.… (meer)