You Bright and Risen Angels
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | William T. Vollmann |
| Products | Book |
You Bright and Risen Angels is a 1987 novel authored by William T. Vollmann, which portrays an imagined conflict between insects and contemporary civilization. Vollmann characterized his debut work as "partly an allegory," drawing inspiration from his encounters with the mujahedeen in Afghanistan. The book, subtitled "A Cartoon," features illustrations created by the author himself.
Writing and composition
The manuscript was submitted by Vollmann independently, without representation from a literary agent. He adopted a "'writing by-the-yard' method," mentioning that the novel might have extended to "ten thousand pages more."
Critical reception
Upon publication, the novel was met with favorable evaluations from sources such as the New York Times and Publishers Weekly. However, Kirkus Reviews provided a more critical perspective, drawing comparisons that placed it below the works of Thomas Pynchon.
Honors
In 1988, You Bright and Risen Angels was honored with the Whiting Writers' Award, acknowledging its importance in literature.