The MacGuffin
novel by Elkin
Quick Summary
The term "MacGuffin" was popularized by Alfred Hitchcock and refers to a plot device that drives a story forward by capturing the audience's attention, even if it ultimately proves irrelevant.1
Stanley Elkin, an American writer known for his imaginative and tragicomic style, wrote a novel titled The MacGuffin in 1991. This novel attempts a more conventional narrative structure while retaining Elkin's distinctive style, following the life of City Commissioner Robert Druff over a 48-hour period.2
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