Word: tarkingtonian
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Saroyan shapes such moments in words of almost primer lucidity. Among his still-pursuing faults are glints of Tarkingtonian facetiousness, sometimes boring and unreal sententiousness, excessive sentiment. His essential limitation-which is also his cardinal virtue-is perhaps incurable. That is his chronic ecstasy, his almost Franciscan loving kindness and optimism. It clearly transfigures the world for him and, for a time, is bound to. transfigure any sympathetic reader. Saroyan is one of the few contemporary writers who can articulate, in terms of common life, the indispensable text, Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall...