U.S. Fiction in the Age of Authenticity: Earnestness and Digital Epitexts in Leilani’s Luster

This essay aims to explore the interrelation of widespread use digital epitextual material and common practice, in post-postmodern U.S. fiction, employ characters character-narrators that share some biographical details with their authors. Specifically, this attends narrative communication when an autobiographical connection between authors is established not textually, but paratextually, through epitexts be found, for instance, on authors’ social media profiles. Through analysis Raven Leilani’s Luster (2020), I will show how acquire a central role contemporary dynamics: it them many novels realize author-character providing fiction layer alleged authenticity meant reinforce tendency earnestly engage ethical political issues.