Depression and Dysphoria in the Fiction of David Foster Wallace

This is the first full-length study of a critically overlooked theme, addressing a major gap in Wallace studies. It explores Wallace's complex engagement with philosophical and medical ideas of emotional suffering and demonstrates how this evolves over his career.

Rob Mayo is based at the University of Bristol. As well as work on Wallace he has published research on disability and science fiction (MOSF Journal of Science Fiction) and 'inner space' in literature, film, and videogames (Healthy Minds in the Twentieth Century: In and Beyond the Asylum).

Introduction Part 1: 'Lovers and Propositions' Chapter 1: The Broom of the System Chapter 2: Girl with Curious Hair and other stories Part 2: 'This Logarithm of All Suffering' Chapter 3: Infinite Jest Chapter 4: Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Part 3: 'Custodian to the Statue' Chapter 5: Oblivion and other stories Chapter 6: The Pale King Conclusion