Towards a Sociology of the Novel
by Lucien Goldmann
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Description
Lucien Goldmann considers the problems posed by a sociological approach to the novel Marxist and structuralist perspectives. He considers these problems both on the level of general theory and of detailed literary exposition. The first essay Introduction to the Problems of a Sociology of the Novel is based on a general hypothesis which correlates the history of the novel form with the history of economic life in Western societies, and discovers striking parallels between economic structures show more and their literary expression, seeing the novel historically as a reflection of the extreme individualism of capitalist society in its heyday and centred on the problematic hero. The second essay Introduction to a Structural Study of Malraux's Novels presents, in contrast, a very concrete study of the novels of André Malraux, which is largely concerned with internal structural analysis. The third essay The Nouveau Roman and Reality is at an intermediate level, relating the films and novels of Alain Robbe-Grillet and Nathalie Sarraute to the changing structure of modern society in the direction of depersonalization and the growing autononomy of objects. Goldmann's larger objective is to pioneer the development of a serious, rigorous and positive science of the life of the mind in general and of cultural creation in particular, focusing on social groups as the true subjects of cultural creation not isolated individuals, as against traditional studies of a purely empirical, positivistic or psychological nature. These essays are essentially a beginning, a jumping-off point for deeper explorations into the sociology of literature and cultural creation in general. Indeed the author claims to be seeking to pose more problems than he solves. As a first glimpse into a new and absorbing field, they are full of provocative and challenging ideas. -- show lessTags
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71+ Works 654 Members
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Towards a Sociology of the Novel
- Original title
- Pour une sociologie du roman
Classifications
- Genres
- Literature Studies and Criticism, Fiction and Literature, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 809.3 — Literature & rhetoric Literature, rhetoric & criticism History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures Fiction
- LCC
- PN3344 .G613 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Prose. Prose fiction Philosophy, theory, etc.
Statistics
- Members
- 66
- Popularity
- 473,522
- Rating
- (2.50)
- Languages
- 6 — English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 5
