How Literatures Begin: A Global History

A comparative history of the practices, technologies, institutions, and people that created distinct literary traditions around the world, from ancient to modern timesLiterature is such a familiar and widespread form of imaginative expression today that its existence can seem inevitable. But in fact very few languages ever developed the full-fl

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Literature is a ubiquitous and cherished form of imaginative expression, yet the development of full-fledged literary cultures is a remarkable feat. How Literatures Begin, a comprehensive global comparative history of literary origins, challenges prevailing assumptions by exploring the unique and common factors that led to their improbable invention. Spanning the ancient and modern world, from Asia and Europe to Africa and the Americas, the book brings together a distinguished group of literary historians to examine seventeen distinct literary traditions, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, English, Romance languages, German, Russian, Latin American, African, African American, and world literature.

Through accessible accounts framed by general and section introductions and a concluding essay by the editors, literature emerges as a complex tapestry, rooted in specific times and places but also displaying surprising similarities. New literatures often arise from old, transcend national and linguistic boundaries, draw inspiration from translation and cultural cross-fertilization, and offer new ways for groups to envision themselves in the context of their historical moment.

How Literatures Begin renews our sense of wonder for the extraordinary and unconventional realm of literature, providing fertile ground for comparative analysis between individual traditions. This insightful work offers a fresh perspective on the origins and evolution of literature, shedding light on the intricate interplay of practices, technologies, institutions, and people that have shaped the diverse literary landscapes across the globe.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691186535