Description

Book Synopsis

Why, Timothy Melley asks, have paranoia and conspiracy theory become such prominent features of postwar American culture? In Empire of Conspiracy, Melley explores the recent growth of anxieties about thought-control, assassination, political...



Trade Review

Melley identifies an emerging irony that a 'supposedly individualist culture conserves its individualism by continually imagining it to be in imminent peril.'... Melley's commentary on the new significance of the corporation in the postwar period makes up one of the most interesting sections of his study... Empire of Conspiracy makes an important contribution to the current re-examination of Cold War culture, especially to the debate over human agency.

-- David Seed, Liverpool University * Journal of American Studies *

Since the 1950's, paranoia and conspiracy theory have increasingly surfaced in not only avant-garde literature, but marginal political discourse as well. Timothy Melley... calls these expressions of anxiety about the loss of personal control 'agency panic.'... He draws connections between... Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo and others to explain the culturewide significance of this syndrome.

* Publishers Weekly *

Empire of Conspiracy The Culture of Paranoia in

    Product form

    £26.59

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £27.99 – you save £1.40 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 11 Aug 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Timothy Melley

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Empire of Conspiracy The Culture of Paranoia in by Timothy Melley

      Publisher: Cornell University Press
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 06/01/2000
      ISBN13: 9780801486067, 978-0801486067
      ISBN10: 0801486068
      Also in:
      Literature: history and criticism

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Why, Timothy Melley asks, have paranoia and conspiracy theory become such prominent features of postwar American culture? In Empire of Conspiracy, Melley explores the recent growth of anxieties about thought-control, assassination, political...



      Trade Review

      Melley identifies an emerging irony that a 'supposedly individualist culture conserves its individualism by continually imagining it to be in imminent peril.'... Melley's commentary on the new significance of the corporation in the postwar period makes up one of the most interesting sections of his study... Empire of Conspiracy makes an important contribution to the current re-examination of Cold War culture, especially to the debate over human agency.

      -- David Seed, Liverpool University * Journal of American Studies *

      Since the 1950's, paranoia and conspiracy theory have increasingly surfaced in not only avant-garde literature, but marginal political discourse as well. Timothy Melley... calls these expressions of anxiety about the loss of personal control 'agency panic.'... He draws connections between... Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo and others to explain the culturewide significance of this syndrome.

      * Publishers Weekly *

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account