One’s defeat laid out in American novel (4,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
east of eden
'american novel' is the definition.
(John Steinbeck novel)
'one's defeat laid out' is the wordplay.
'laid out' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ones'+'defeat'='onesdefeat'
'onesdefeat' with letters rearranged gives 'EAST OF EDEN'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for east of eden that I've seen before include "Steinbeck novel" , "Book by Steinbeck" , "one by Steinbeck" , "Book and film" .)