Meaning: The quote by Anatole Broyard, an American literary critic and editor, encapsulates a profound paradox within American literature. Broyard highlights the tendency of American writers to retrospectively romanticize and yearn for the past, despite having eagerly anticipated leaving those very lives behind. This paradox reflects a complex relationship with nostalgia, longing, and the passage of time in American literary tradition.

In exploring this paradox, it is important to consider the historical and cultural contexts that have shaped American literature. Throughout its history, American society has been marked by a spirit of progress, expansion, and reinvention. This forward-looking ethos has often been reflected in the writings of American authors, who frequently depict characters striving to escape their pasts and pursue new opportunities. The pursuit of the American Dream, with its emphasis on self-improvement and upward mobility, has been a recurring theme in American literature.

At the same time, there is a deeply ingrained sense of nostalgia and longing for the past that permeates American literary works. Many authors have sought to capture the essence of bygone eras, portraying them as idyllic, simpler, and more authentic than the present. This wistful longing for the past is evident in numerous literary works, from F. Scott Fitzgerald's evocative portrayal of the Jazz Age in "The Great Gatsby" to the rural nostalgia depicted in the writings of Mark Twain and Willa Cather.

Broyard's assertion that American writers look back with love and nostalgia at lives they couldn't wait to leave speaks to the complex interplay between memory, imagination, and the passage of time in literature. It suggests that the act of reminiscing about the past involves a selective and often idealized reimagining of personal experiences. This idealization may stem from a desire to find meaning and solace in the face of the uncertainties and challenges of the present.

Moreover, the paradox highlighted in the quote also underscores the universal human inclination towards nostalgia and the romanticization of the past. In literature, nostalgia serves as a powerful literary device that can evoke a wide range of emotions, from yearning and melancholy to a sense of comfort and familiarity. By juxtaposing the yearning for the past with the eagerness to leave it behind, Broyard's quote invites readers to consider the complexities of human memory and the ways in which individuals negotiate their relationship with the past.

In conclusion, Anatole Broyard's quote sheds light on the paradoxical nature of American literature, wherein writers nostalgically revisit past lives they once sought to escape. This paradox reflects the intricate interplay between longing for the past and the pursuit of new horizons, as well as the enduring power of nostalgia in shaping literary imagination. By delving into this paradox, readers gain insight into the multifaceted nature of memory, longing, and the enduring appeal of the past in American literary tradition.