The Psychopath and the Twentieth-Century American Novel

By: Frederick Whiting

Write A Review

Hardcover | 3 September 2026

At a Glance

Hardcover
280 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 1.91

Hardcover

RRP $219.95

$192.99

12%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $48.25 with

or

Ships in 15 to 25 business days

The Psychopath and the Twentieth-Century American Novel examines the psychopath as a new kind of monster. Frederick Whiting reads novels â" ranging from pulp fiction to belles lettres â" that draw on science, law, and popular journalism to try to explain this threatening new creature. Through these readings, this book uncovers the ways in which the figure of the psychopath that populated so many twentieth-century American novels expressed cultural anxieties about sexuality, race, gender, and class â" even as the psychopath marked the shifting boundaries of the category of 'the human.' Whiting offers an interdisciplinary analysis showing how literature, science, law, and popular journalism inform each other. Ultimately, he concludes, this episode in the genealogy of monstrosity amounts to a transformation in the evolving concept of the monstrous itself â" from a violation of our nature to a violation of our narratives.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.