The Intertextuality of Joyce Cary's The Horse's Mouth

An understanding of the novel's multiple intertexts (Blake, other artists, socio-political and feminist issues), as well as its interdisciplinary approach and sophisticated narrative technique make possible a totally new reading of The Horse's Mouth and a recognition of it as one of the great novels of the twentieth century, while revealing Intertextuality as perhaps the most meaningful approach to literature today. Material from the Osborn Collection of Joyce Cary Manuscripts (included as an appendix) clarify his working process and choice of intertexts.