"Time and Again" Analytical Essay by Professor Victor Verb

Time travel stories seem to have always been popular, perhaps because the format allows for so many possibilities that many people find intriguing. In this book, the author tells the story of graphic artist Simon Morley from 20th century New York City, who becomes part of a time travel experiment and is transported back to a 19th century where he encounters the types of characters and events that serve to define and characterize the previous era. Morley's subsequent adventures in 19th century New York are replete with illustrations and detailed descriptions of everyday behaviors and ordinary items to help the modern reader visualize what life was like in the past. Unfortunately, Finney took over 400 pages to write a 200-page book and it shows. This paper provides a review and discussion of Jack Finney's "Time and Again," followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.