Donald Barthelme – Interesting Literature

A Summary and Analysis of Donald Barthelme’s ‘Rebecca’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Rebecca’ is a short story by the American writer Donald Barthelme (1931-89), whose work is sometimes labelled as ‘postmodernist’ (a label he was not entirely comfortable with, but which he accepted) and, occasionally, ‘metafiction’ (a label he was less happy with).

Published in the New Yorker in 1975, ‘Rebecca’ is a short story about love, acceptance, appearance, and identity, among other themes. Before we offer an analysis of the story and its themes, however, here’s a brief attempt to summarise the story’s plot.

A Summary and Analysis of Donald Barthelme’s ‘I Bought a Little City’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘I Bought a Little City’ is a short story by the American writer Donald Barthelme (1931-89), included in his 1976 collection Amateurs. In the story, the narrator relates how he bought a city in Texas and began making changes to it, although he soon lets the power go to his head.

A Summary and Analysis of Donald Barthelme’s ‘The School’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The School’ is probably the best-known short story by the American writer Donald Barthelme (1931-89), whose work is sometimes labelled as ‘postmodernist’ (a label he was not entirely comfortable with, but which he accepted) and, occasionally, ‘metafiction’ (a label he was less happy with).