Literary History and the Challenge of Philology: The Legacy of Erich Auerbach (Figurae: Reading Medieval Culture) [Hardcover]

Seth Lerer (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0804725454 | ISBN-13: 978-0804725453 | Edition: 1

A century after his birth and fifty years after the composition of Mimesis, Auerbach still stands as a touchstone for contemporary academic debates on the place of historical criticism in the construction of literary history, on the relations between intellectual activity and political action, and on the function of the critic in recording—or effecting—social change. More than an occasion to review past accomplishments or revel in the nostalgias of prewar Marburg or postwar New Haven, the papers offered in this volume seek to reassess Auerbach's work and his example for the modern academic. Their genesis lay in a conference at Stanford University held in October 1992, and while they do not represent a consensus of opinion or a uniformity of school or approach, they all share the recognition of the timeliness of such a reassessment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The lasting impact of this volume will be found less in historicizing Auerbach as a literary figure than in revitalizing his enterprise for literary studies—and for medieval studies in particular. . . . What he provides us is a methodology that belies the common criticism of medieval philology that its efforts are irrelevant to contemporary literary practice.”—Envoi

From the Back Cover

“The lasting impact of this volume will be found less in historicizing Auerbach as a literary figure than in revitalizing his enterprise for literary studies—and for medieval studies in particular. . . . What he provides us is a methodology that belies the common criticism of medieval philology that its efforts are irrelevant to contemporary literary practice.”—Envoi

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Stanford University Press; 1 edition (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804725454
• ISBN-13: 978-0804725453
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,580,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reading a master, February 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Literary History and the Challenge of Philology: The Legacy of Erich Auerbach (Figurae: Reading Medieval Culture) (Hardcover)

The academic fashions in literary history often contribute to the fall of many great authors into oblivion. This might be the case of Auerbach. The anthology of articles edited by Lerer is one reminder of the importance of his work. Establishing Auerbach's contributions may be hard due to the little availability of his work in English. Nonetheless, the many articles included explore the basic notions of "figura" and literary history, direct precursors of critics like Harold Bloom. Even though the book is sometimes too especialized, the chapters on the question of literary history (particularly the one referring to periodization) are necessary guides to an in-depth reading of Auerbach. If combined with the reading of Auerbach's masterpiece "Mimesis", the intellectual possibilities are very wide.