Noble lies, slant truths, necessary angels : aspects of fictionality in the novels of Christoph Martin Wieland / Ellis Shookman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shookman, Ellis.

Series:

University of North Carolina studies in the Germanic languages and literatures ; no. 118.

University of North Carolina studies in the Germanic languages and literatures

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wieland, Christoph Martin, 1733-1813--Criticism and interpretation.

Wieland, Christoph Martin.

Wieland, Christoph Martin, 1733-1813.

Fiction.

Fiction--History and criticism.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

xi, 237 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill [N.C.] : University of North Carolina Press, 1997.

Summary:

The nine novels of Christoph Martin Wieland (1733-1813) all explore the notion of fictionality, both as a distinctive feature of the stories themselves and as a distinguishing characteristic of the fanciful notions, moral laws, political utopias, religious beliefs, and artistic concepts that they describe. The novels show why readers should take fictions seriously, yet not literally -- or how to suspend disbelief without suspending judgment.

With their emphasis on imagination, ideals, and illusion, Wieland's novels say much about defining fiction, knowing its referents, and accepting its truths. Making one's way in the real world seems to involve exploring the many possible worlds that the novels posit.

This study reads Wieland's novels in light of current literary theory and shows how knowing them enriches that theory in turn.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-234) and index.

ISBN:

080788118X

0807883026

OCLC:

35110239