Narrativity: Theory and Practice - Hardcover

Sturgess, Philip J. M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198119542 ISBN 13: 9780198119548

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 1991

Synopsis

Defining narrativity as the enabling force of narrative, this is the first full-length exploration in English of the concept. It develops the notion of a 'logic of narrativity', and by this means tries to contribute a new critical strategy to the field of narrative theory. The book also takes issue with a number of critical approaches which in recent years have acquired near-orthodox status in the matter of textual interpretation. Most prominent amongst these approaches are deconstruction and a particular form of Marxist criticism. The author's own theoretical claims are substantiated by readings of major twentieth-century novels by Conrad, Joyce, Flann O'Brien and Arthur Koestler and the book concludes with an analysis of an earlier narrative, Maria Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent, which illustrates the wider premisses of the theory and its applications.

About this title

Review:

'A relentlessly logical, clearly expanded, comprehensive presentation of a hypothesis about how narrative works. The argument is carefully structured, with frequent reiteration of main ideas and periodic summary of points.'R.R. Warhol, University of Vermont, Choice, Apr '93

Synopsis:

Defining narrativity as the enabling force of narrative, this is the first full-length exploration of the concept in fiction in English. It develops the notion of a 'logic of narrativity', and by this means contributes a new critical strategy to the field of narrative theory. The book also takes issue with a number of critical approaches which have in recent years acquired near-orthodox status in the matter of textual interpretation. Most prominent among these approaches are deconstruction and a particular form of Marxist criticism. The author's own theoretical claims are substantiated by readings of major twentieth-century novels by Conrad, Joyce, Flann O'Brien, and Arthur Koestler, and the book concludes with an analysis of an earlier narrative, Maria Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent, which illustrates the wider premises of the theory and its applications.

About this edition

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0198119542
• ISBN 13: 9780198119548
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336