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Fictional Truth
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Fictional Truth Paperback - 1990

by Michael Riffaterre

This book identifies and discusses the features that give fictional narratives their ring of truth, testing the author's theories against the works of Austen, Dickens, Balzac, James, Proust, and others.


From the publisher

"All literary genres are artifacts", writes Michael Riffaterre, "but none more blatantly so than fiction. Its very name declares its artificiality, and yet it must somehow be true to hold the interest of its readers, to tell them about experiences at once imaginary and relevant to their own lives. This paradox of truth in fiction is the problem for which I propose to seek a solution."

In "Fictional Truth" Riffaterre identifies and discusses the features that give fictional narratives their ring of truth. He offers a semiotic revision of traditional narratology, sets forth a new theory of intertextual overdetermination, and presents an analysis of the manifestation of narrative content through the operations of an intertextual unconscious. Throughout, Riffaterre tests theory against close readings of fiction by such authors as Austen, Balzac, Dickens, James, Meredith, Proust, and Trollope. An introduction and glossary of terms help make this an indispensable volume for the students as well as the specialist.

From the rear cover

"All literary genres are artifacts", writes Michael Riffaterre, "but none more blatantly so than fiction. Its very name declares its artificiality, and yet it must somehow be true to hold the interest of its readers, to tell them about experiences at once imaginary and relevant to their own lives. This paradox of truth in fiction is the problem for which I propose to seek a solution."

In "Fictional Truth" Riffaterre identifies and discusses the features that give fictional narratives their ring of truth. He offers a semiotic revision of traditional narratology, sets forth a new theory of intertextual overdetermination, and presents an analysis of the manifestation of narrative content through the operations of an intertextual unconscious. Throughout, Riffaterre tests theory against close readings of fiction by such authors as Austen, Balzac, Dickens, James, Meredith, Proust, and Trollope. An introduction and glossary of terms help make this an indispensable volume for the students as well as the specialist.

Details

  • Title Fictional Truth
  • Author Michael Riffaterre
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition 1st Edition
  • Pages 160
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
  • Date 1990-01-19
  • Features Bibliography, Glossary, Index, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780801839344 / 0801839343
  • Weight 0.45 lbs (0.20 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.45 x 5.36 x 0.52 in (21.46 x 13.61 x 1.32 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Fiction - History and criticism, Narration (Rhetoric)
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 89045491
  • Dewey Decimal Code 809.391

About the author

Michael Riffaterre is University Professor at Columbia University as well as Director and a Senior Fellow of the School of Criticism and Theory at Dartmouth College. He is author of Semiotics of Poetry and Text Production.

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Fictional Truth (Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society)
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Fictional Truth (Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society)

by Riffaterre, Michael

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Fictional Truth
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Fictional Truth

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Fictional Truth

Fictional Truth

by Michael Riffaterre

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Fictional Truth
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Fictional Truth

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Fictional Truth (Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society)
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Fictional Truth (Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society)

by Riffaterre, Michael

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