Books by Timothy Bewes

This book develops a new theory of the novel for the twenty-first century. In the works of writers such as J. M. Coetzee, Rachel Cusk, James Kelman, W. G. Sebald, and Zadie Smith, Timothy Bewes identifies a mode of thought that he calls "free indirect," in which the novel's refusal of prevailing ideologies can be found.

Reification is the process by which an intangible idea is transformed into an identifiable "thing". This book opens up a new formulation of the theory, claiming that, in this age of late capitalism, reification itself is inseparable from the anxiety people feel towards it.

This study descends into the modern cynical consciousness and emerges with a critical assessment of the preoccupations of contemporary society. It charts the development of a culture of cynicism in forms, such as an obsession with finality and integrity.