More than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary criticism. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. I really enjoyed this book but it is very heavy going. This new collection of essays, translated by jane o. To explore this question, erich auerbach brings to bear the authority of truly encyclopedic learning and the persuasiveness of a supple, humane literary intelligence. The representation of reality in western literature new and expanded edition erich auerbach and edward w. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis still stands as a monumental achievement in literary criticism. The book was published in 1946, and this new edition, with an introduction by edward said, marks the 50th anniversary of its first appearance in the united states. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbach s mimesis still stands as a monumental achievement in literary criticism. The representation of reality in western literature by erich auerbach and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. One of the most significant works of literary criticism of this century, erich auerbach s mimesis undertakes a new and profound approach to major moments in western literature. Mimesis project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read.
Erich auerbach tackles a formidable topic in his scholarly investigation of the concept of mimesis. It follows the history of realism in literature to the twentieth. Mimesis ebook by erich auerbach 9781400847952 rakuten kobo. Mimesis by erich auerbach, 9780691160221, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. There he wrote mimesis, publishing it in german after the end of the war. Erich auerbach november 9, 1892 october, 1957 was a german philologist and comparative scholar and critic of literature. Auerbachs mimesis, one of the great works of literary scholarship, was written between 1942 and 1945 in istanbul, where auerbach, a berlin jew, had taken refuge from the nazis. Odysseus scar readers of the odyssey will remember the wellprepared and touching scene in book 19, when odysseus has at last come home, the scene in which the old housekeeper euryclea. Auerbach was one of those towering european intellectuals, with encyclopedic knowledge of almost everything, who gave real meaning to the word scholarship. But i keep these books nearby, and i return to the cathedrals of them now and again. Written while auerbach was teaching in istanbul, turkey, where he fled after being ousted from his professorship in romance philology at the university of marburg by the nazis. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis still. Forced to flee germany, he spent the war years in istanbul, where he wrote his greatest work, mimesis. The representation of reality in western literature by.
More than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbach s mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary criticism. The greek word, translated literally as imitation, means for the literary scholar the method by. Erich auerbach has 28 books on goodreads with 12678 ratings. One of the most significant works of literary criticism of this century, erich auerbachs mimesis undertakes a new and profound approach to major moments in western literature. The representation of reality in western literature by erich auerbach 1968, paperback, revised at the best online prices at ebay. More than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I found auerbachs final book, literary language and its public in late latin antiquity and in the middle ages, published in 1958, the year after he died, to be easier going.
Mimesis more than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary criticism. Oct 23, 2003 auerbachs mimesis, one of the great works of literary scholarship, was written between 1942 and 1945 in istanbul, where auerbach, a berlin jew, had taken refuge from the nazis. Read mimesis the representation of reality in western literature new expanded edition by erich auerbach available from rakuten kobo. Although auerbach wrote mimesis 50 years ago, and a great deal of research has been produced since then, his book is still a masterwork, and provides many valuable insights for a range of texts. The representation of reality in western literature. The representation of reality in western literature this tightlypacked volume 579 pages in my paperback edition is a comprehensive survey of the landmarks in western fiction, from virgils the odyssey to virginia woolfs to the lighthouse. Written while auerbach was teaching in istanbul, turkey, where he fled after being ousted from his professorship in romance. After gaining a doctorate in philology at the university of greifswald, germany, in 1921, auerbach served as librarian for the prussian state library. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis still stands as a monumental.
More than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbach s mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary. A brilliant display of erudition, wit, and wisdom, his exploration of how great european writers from homer to virginia woolf depicted reality has taught generations how to read western literature. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimes. The representation of reality in western literature german. Erich auerbach is often called the father of comparative literature. Oct 06, 20 more than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbach s mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary criticism. The representation of reality in western literature, trans. One of the most important and readable books in literary criticism of the past 15. The representation of reality in western literature first published in german in 1946 and in willard r. Jun, 2018 erich auerbach is often called the father of comparative literature. More than a work of literary criticism, this study is filled with insights into the western imagination and western culture itself, in its repeated.
Yes, mimesis is magisterial, but it is also thrilling to read, inspiring, and more relevant than ever. The representation of reality in western literature fiftiethanniversary edition with a new introduction by edward w. The representation of reality in western literature, a history of representation in western literature from ancient to modern times and frequently cited as a classic in the study of realism in literature. This new expanded edition includes a substantial essay in. Readers eadweard muybridge animals in motion pdf of the. Dealing with literary criticism, the author aims to show how, from antiquity to the twentieth century, literature progressed toward ever more naturalistic and. The germanjewish scholar erich auerbach 18921957 is known mainly as the author of one book. The representation of reality in western literature, published in 1946 is the authors best known work. The greek word, translated literally as imitation, means for the literary scholar the. This literary theorist and romance philologist has been very influential in helping scholars understand the history of literary. For erich auerbach, reality and metaphor are one in dante.
751 1241 1373 214 32 1192 1053 1075 439 1176 274 66 723 1611 885 1161 1499 746 1181 865 835 798 1010 444 1485 801 1352 362 1157 108 531 67 1571 606 391 726 944 1089 352 405 1035 1409 411 1377 856 625 1271 856 993 722 113