Understanding William T. Vollmann

"Isil Ozcan comprehensively maps the vast reach of William T. Vollmann's work. She indeed understands him (in all of his rich complexity), and so will any reader who enlists her aid in reading Vollmann, who is North America's foremost living novelist, and its greatest non-fiction writer too."—Robert L. Caserio, Penn State, University Park

"Understanding William T. Vollmann is exactly the kind of study Vollmann's writing deserves: meticulously documented, rich in perceptive critical insights, wide-ranging and inspired in giving literary and theoretical contexts for Vollmann's work, including notions of deep time and planetary literature. This book is an invaluable resource for seasoned Vollmann readers and newcomers alike."—Daniel Lukes, editor of Conversations with William T. Vollmann

"This is a perfect introduction to Vollmann. Özcan's fresh and incisive arguments reliably guide newcomers while rewarding veteran readers. Her engagements with his interrogations of injustices past and present, and her articulation of his place in the literary moment, highlight especially well his importance in the global era. An essential book about an essential writer."—Christopher K. Coffman, Boston University