Saul Bellow has been America’s leading novelist for nearly 40 years. This essay has three chief aims:1) to define Bellow’s idiosyncratic genius as a writer;and 2) to place him in the context of the modern American novel.In aid of the latter goal I offer some generalizations about the tradition of American prose fiction.3) My third aim is to provide some bibliographical guidance to literary criticism and interpretation of modern American fiction. Saul Bellow has been America’s leading novelist for nearly 40 years. This essay has three sponsors: 1) to define Bellow’s idiosyncratic genius as a writer; and 2) to place him in the context of the modern American novel. Aid of the latter goal I offer some generalizations about the tradition of American prose fiction.3) My third aim is to provide some bibliographical guidance to literary criticism and interpretation of modern American fiction.