The Growth of Literature, Volume II.

Russia ccgl Chadwick,H. Munro and Nora K. Chadwick. The Growth of Literature, Volume II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1968, (1936), xvii, 783 pages, index. Good to very good condition in like dust jacket. Originally published in 1936. A very impressive piece of scholarship by two distinguished historians. Heavy volume. $42.50 Box 3

Summary: First published between 1932 and 1940, Volume II only this is a three-volume study of the historical development of literature. It explores the oral and written literatures of regions from Iceland and the British Isles, to Russia, the Balkans, Africa, India and the Pacific, placing them in their historical context and examining similarities between them. The authors discuss both ancient and recent texts, illustrating the connections within each group and considering the question of whether all literary growth is influenced by common factors. Praised on publication as ' ... a work that is not, probably could not be, superseded' (International Journal of Comparative Sociology), the book remains a benchmark for those studying comparative literature or the history of literary criticism. Volume 2 focuses particularly on Russia and the Balkans, and also surveys both early Indian and early Hebrew literature.

Contents: Preface; Corrigenda; Explanatory note on 'types' and 'saga'; Part I. Russian Oral Literature: 1. Introduction. Oral tradition and writing; 2. Heroic poetry. The Byliny; 3. The heroic milieu. Individualism in the heroic poems; 4. Historical and unhistorical elements in the Byliny; 5. The texts; 6. Saga; 7. Non-heroic poetry. The Stikhi (1); 8. Poetry relating to scriptural subjects and to the saints of the Greek church. The Stikhi (2); 9. Post-heroic, antiquarian, gnomic and descriptive poetry and saga; 10. Poetry relating to unspecified individuals; 11. The recitation and composition of heroic poetry and saga. The Skaziteli; 12. The recitation and composition of religious poetry. The Kaleki; 13. The popular poet and story-teller; List of abbreviations used in Part I; Part II. Yugoslav Oral Poetry: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing; 2. Heroic poetry; 3. Non-heroic poetry; 4. The heroic milieu. Individualism; 5. Unhistorical elements in heroic poetry; 6. Poetry relating to supernatural beings; 7. Poetry relating to unspecified individuals; 8. The remaining categories. (1) Antiquarian poetry, (2) Gnomic, descriptive and mantic poetry; 9. The texts; 10. Recitation and composition. The poet; Part III. Early Indian Literature: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing; 2. Heroic poetry; 3. The heroic milieu. Individualism; 4. Non-heroic poetry and saga; 5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry; 6. Poetry and saga relating to deities; 7. Antiquarian learning; 8. Gnomic and descriptive poetry; 9. Poetry (and prose) relating to unspecified individuals; 10. Mantic poetry and prose; 11. The texts; 12. Recitation and composition. The author; Part IV. Early Hebrew Literature: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing; 2. The heroic age. Heroic saga and poetry; 3. Non-heroic saga and poetry; 4. The heroic milieu. Individualism; 5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry; 6. Antiquarian learning; 7. Theological and mantic literature; 8. Gnomic and descriptive literature. Literature relating to unspecified individuals; 9. The texts. Recitation and composition; 10. The author; Index.