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About this quote

What does it mean?
Vidal notes that class is a difficult topic for American writers to address directly, unlike English writers who must constantly navigate it.
In plain terms
American writers struggle to talk about class, while English writers cannot avoid it.
What can you take from it?
Cultural context dictates how easily writers discuss class.

Where it applies

  • literary analysis
  • social commentary

Putting it to work

  • observe class dynamics
  • read social novels

Questions to consider

  • Why is class hard to discuss?
  • How does culture shape writing?

Another view

It assumes a binary between American and English literary traditions.

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