
- 200 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
"Digression is a crucial motif in literary narratives. It features as a key characteristic of fictional works from Cervantes and Sterne, to Proust, Joyce and Calvino. Moving away from a linear narrative and following a path of associations reflects how we think and speak. Yet an author's inability to stick to the point has often been seen to detract from a work of literature, somehow weakening it. This wide-ranging and timely volume seeks to celebrate narrative digressions and move towards a theoretical framework for studying the meanderings of literary texts as a useful and valuable aspect of literature. Essays discussing some of the possibilities for approaching narrative digression from a theoretical perspective are complemented with focused studies of European and American authors. As a whole, the book offers a broad and varied view of textual wanderings."
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half Title
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Dedication
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Notes on the Contributors
- Introduction: 'Perfume from a dress...': On Not Getting to the Point
- 1 Re-reading Digression: Towards a Theory of Plotless Narrativity
- 2 Reflections on the Fruitful Error
- 3 'On with the Story!' John Barth's Theory of Narrative Digression
- 4 Italian Digressions
- 5 'I've Started So I'll — Marivauxs La Vie ae Marianne
- 6 Stepping Away: Radical Digressivity and At Swim-Two-Birds
- 7 Tell It Again, José! Some Principles of Digression in Saramago
- 8 Is Digression a Viable Concept for Literary Studies?
- Index