It could be argued that at the time of the publication of her eleventh novel,
Saint Maybe(1991), U.S. author Anne Tyler was at the top of her game. Immediately preceded by 1985’s
The Accidental Tourist,winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, and 1988’s Pulitzer Prize-winning
Breathing Lessons, Saint Maybeintroduced readers to the Bedloes, another family residing in Tyler’s beloved Baltimore, Maryland USA. As the Bedloes’ typical American mid-century, middle class existence is irreparably disrupted by unexpected outside influences, Tyler guides her characters through quirky plot turns that showcase her trademark themes: the presence and importance of extended family; reconciliation of said extended family, often after a period of separation; and the all-important…
1196 words
Citation: Donohue, Cecilia. "Saint Maybe". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 April 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=14603, accessed 23 November 2024.]
