Description
Book SynopsisThis book traces several of the most recent trends in both the Italian and the American critical traditions, exploring the points at which the two traditions intersect or for specific reasons fail to intersect.
Trade Review“This is an important work that gives an original analytical account of prevalent modes of critical thought (deconstruction, feminism, Marxism) from the standpoint of the philosophical theories of Vico and Gramsci. Lucente’s passionate critique of the sundry narcissistic and self-enclosed shapes of modern thought in terms of the consciousness of history is fresh and persuasive, and the economy and crispness of his writing is admirable.”—Giuseppe Mazzotta, Yale University
Table of ContentsPart I. Recent Theory: 1. Dec onstruction, Marxism and feminism in current theory; 2. Critical pluralism in the American and European traditions; 3. History with a future(?); 4. Could you elaborate on that? (well, yes and no); Part II. The Historical Imagination: 5. Vico, Hercules and the lion; 6. Hayden White's 'the content of the form'; 7. Yesterday, today, tomorrow; 8. Rationality and myth in Priandello's later works; 9. Literary representation and sociopolitical/cultural contexts in the historical novel; Part III. 10. The exercise of silence; 11. Against theory? Yes and no; 12. Weak thought/strong thought; Notes; Index.
