Textual Wanderings: The Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression

Rhian Atkin

Textual Wanderings
The Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression

Edited by Rhian Atkin

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Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), Spanish novelist

8 other titles

Laurence Sterne (1713-69), English novelist

5 other titles

Legenda (General Series)

Legenda

6 July 2011 • 142pp

ISBN: 978-1-907747-90-8 (hardback) • RRP £80, $110, €95

FrenchSpanishItalianEnglishFiction

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.

Rhian Atkin teaches Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at the University of Manchester, and is completing a PhD at the University of Leeds.

Contents:

1-14	Introduction: ‘Perfume from a dress...’: On Not Getting to the Point Jonathan J. Long	Cite
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15-26	Re-reading Digression: Towards a Theory of Plotless Narrativity Samuel Frederick	Cite
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27-36	Reflections on the Fruitful Error Richard Hibbitt	Cite
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37-46	‘On with the Story!’ John Barth’s Theory of Narrative Digression Jena Habegger-Conti	Cite
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47-63	Italian Digressions Olivia Santovetti	Cite
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64-81	‘I’ve Started So I’ll — ’: Marivaux’s La Vie de Marianne Will McMorran	Cite
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82-98	Stepping Away: Radical Digressivity and At Swim-Two-Birds Maebh Long	Cite
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99-111	Tell It Again, José! Some Principles of Digression in Saramago Rhian Atkin	Cite
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112-126	Is Digression a Viable Concept for Literary Studies? Christine Angela Knoop	Cite
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Bibliography entry:

Atkin, Rhian (ed.), Textual Wanderings: The Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression (Legenda, 2011)

First footnote reference: ³⁵ Textual Wanderings: The Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression, ed. by Rhian Atkin (Legenda, 2011), p. 21.

Subsequent footnote reference: ³⁷ Atkin, p. 47.

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Cite this volume in MHRA author-date style

Bibliography entry:

Atkin, Rhian (ed.). 2011. Textual Wanderings: The Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression (Legenda)

Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Atkin 2011: 21).

Example footnote reference: ³⁵ Atkin 2011: 21.

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This Legenda title was first published by Modern Humanities Research Association and Maney Publishing but rights to it are now held by Modern Humanities Research Association and Routledge.

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Permanent link to this title:

www.mhra.org.uk/publications/Textual-Wanderings

Textual WanderingsThe Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression

Edited by Rhian Atkin

Textual Wanderings
The Theory and Practice of Narrative Digression