Instaurations: Essays in and out of Literature Pindar to Pound

A collection of literary essays exploring the role of poetry in society and challenging the lives we lead. The book argues for a rigorous reading of literature that restores its didactic function and seeks a place where such a reading can be possible. It emphasizes the importance of literature as a witness to human knowledge and the need for new foundations in poetic thinking.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

This book presents a captivating sequence of six interconnected studies that span from classical antiquity to the present, encompassing the works of renowned poets such as Pindar, Sophocles, Pound, and Dante. These literary essays are framed by two broader papers that explore the profound impact of these texts on our society and the lives we lead within it. The opening paper advocates for a revitalized approach to reading that aims to reclaim the didactic essence of literature, while the final paper seeks to identify a realm where such a reading can flourish—a way of reading that would also constitute a way of living.

Literature holds immense significance, perhaps more so than ever before, as it stands as the last remaining testament to much that humanity has always known but is now at risk of losing. It possesses the power to reveal profound insights into the nature of human beings, the intricacies of nature, and the mysteries of the divine. However, its potential lies solely in our ability to engage with it diligently, which is why the bulk of this book consists of meticulous close textual analyses of poets from both ancient and contemporary times. These studies will undoubtedly be of value to readers regardless of their alignment with the author's views on the role of literature in our contemporary world.

The term "instauration" carries a dual meaning: it signifies renewal and also hints at a conception of poetry as a celebration. Furthermore, it implies a founding, reminiscent of the vision articulated by Bacon when he named his program for advancing natural science "Instauratio magna." Over three and a half centuries later, we may be nearing the culmination of the great movement that Bacon initiated. If so, the pressing question that confronts us all is: What lies ahead? What new foundations can be established? This book eagerly anticipates another instauration, one that will witness a greater contribution from poetic thinking.

This title is proudly published by UC Press.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520358546