Epilogue. The History of a History Cover Image

Epilog. Istoria unei istorii
Epilogue. The History of a History

Author(s): Nicolae Manolescu
Subject(s): Cultural Essay, Political Essay, Societal Essay
Published by: Institutul Cultural Român
Keywords: literary history; istorie literară; Z. Ornea; Marin Preda; G. Călinescu; generation; generație; critic; canon; communism; comunism; literatură română; Romanian literature; Albert Thibaudet; cenzură; censorship; Virgil Nemoianu; Ion Negoițescu; communist r

Summary/Abstract: The renown critic and literary historian resumes the history of the creation of his Critical History of Romanian Literature. Following the fall of communism, it was necessary to re-read and re-assess especially the literary works written in the communist epoch. The author also notes the difference between his generation and that of the young critics and literary historians for which the criteria of selection differ sometimes substantially. The author himself reconsiders works of literature, and absences are more significant than presences. His conclusion, partly positive, is that most works written between 1964-89 have an important moral and political stake – including the works of literary criticism that succeeded to impose their own canon based on aesthetic assessment as opposed to the official canon, preponderantly political.

  • Issue Year: 2008
  • Issue No: 67
  • Page Range: 34-36
  • Page Count: 3
  • Language: Romanian