The Anxiety of Authenticity: Elizabeth Strout's New England Paradox Elizabeth Strout's latest novel has brought her face to face with a familiar critique: that her writing is rooted in an "uptight" New England reserve.
This stereotype suggests that her work perpetuates a staid, WASPish aesthetic.
However, what does it mean to be seen as "uptight," and how does this label intersect with Strout's own experiences as a writer from New England?