The Whole Idea Of 'The Great American Novel' Is Gendered And Generally Ridiculous, Writes Ursula K. Le Guin

"To me, the keystone of the phrase 'the great American novel' is not the word American but the word great. Greatness, in the sense of outstanding or unique accomplishment, is a cryptogendered word. In ordinary usage and common understanding, 'a great American' means a great American man, 'a great writer' means a great male writer. ... It makes perfect sense to me that I've never heard a woman writer say she intended, or wanted, to write the great American novel."

Article source here:Arts Journal