Ross MacDonald's influences have definitely come from earlier
lit... I can see
that The Great Gatsby was a major influence, the ideals of a
dream, a
mysterious past, an unattached character... Another influence
I'm sure, is
Henry James... The last one third of his novel The American
had MacDonald
written all over it... It's an interesting idea that possibly
MacDonald's
theme of family pasts and crime could just be a metaphor for
his use of past
American Lit.... While we fail to admit it, our past has
influenced our lives
today greatly, and I think MacDonald knew it... I would love
to know the topic
of Millar's thesis at Michigan State, and if anyone knows it,
please let the
list know.....
-Dave
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