Reviewer Craig Ferhman writes, “Every so often, spurred by some kind of creative liberal guilt, someone will ask: Where are the conservative novelists?” He reviews a first novel from a conservative novelist, and I have to ask, looking at this review, if foul language is required for publishing serious stories today?
Marilynne Robinson won a Pulitzer, and uses very mild language. The key, I think, is the appropriateness of the language; if you’re writing about preachers in a small town (as she is), than a lack of cursing is immensely appropriate. If you’re writing about grad students, or teens, or stock-brokers, or criminals…then you need a different register.
Yes, she comes to mind for me too. You’re probably right about context. I’m a little shocked, I think, about how vulgar our visual and verbal language has become.
Andrew Klavan is a conservative.
And ORson Scott Card is a . . . uhm, well I am not quite sure what he is (a bit all over the map) is a sci-fi novelist.
Card has expressed conservative views on gay marriage and Iraq.