Major Issues
Author Links
Essay Questions

Major Issues

The Catholic themes that pervade Andre Dubus’ fiction have been studied by a number of literary scholars and have drawn comparisons with the work of Flannery O’Connor. Other critics have focused on Dubus’ intense realism. It has been suggested that he creates mostly unlikeable, but always intriguing characters. Dubus explores the violence, isolation, and alienation that permeate contemporary life. His fiction presents what has been labelled an "existential Christian" view, in which he probes the role of morality in modern living. Dubus, scholars note, presents difficult moral conundrums, such as the conflict between religious and familial duty. Fidelity and adultery, and the complexity of relationships, are other common Dubus themes.

Author Links

Salon Review
A review-essay of Dubus’ 1996 collection Dancing After Hours.

First Books
Dubus’ reflects on the important experience of publishing his first book.

Remembering Andre Dubus
A friend remembers Dubus’ many personal and literary accomplishments.

Meditations from a Movable Chair
This essay considers Dubus’ finely focused subjects and style, and discusses the highway accident which changed his life.

Andre Dubus, R.I.P.
An essay focusing on Dubus’ admirable risk-taking in his life and his literary works.