Mimetic Lives: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Character in the Novel

Mimetic Lives examines how Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky create lifelike characters in their novels through techniques such as mimetic life, which gives readers a sense of a character's autonomous, embodied existence. It explores a productive tension between mimetic characterization and the authors' ambition to transform the reader. The book challenges the contemporary truism that novels educate us by providing enduring models for the perspectives of others and emphasizes the novels' resources as a form for thought and their limits as a direct source of spiritual, social, or political change.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Mimetic Lives: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Character in the Novel delves into the captivating question of why some characters seem so remarkably real. This insightful exploration is brought to life through readings of prominent works by Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, two master storytellers who worked during the pinnacle of the Russian realist tradition. Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, each in their unique way, discovered groundbreaking techniques to enhance the aesthetic illusion known as mimetic life—the immersive experience that allows readers to feel as if they are truly living the lives of the characters.

However, these authors went beyond simply creating lifelike characters; they pushed the boundaries of this illusion by incorporating elements such as philosophy, history, journalism, theology, and myth into their novels. Kitzinger's profound analysis unfolds through a fresh perspective on renowned masterpieces like War and Peace, Anna Karenina, The Brothers Karamazov, and many others. By meticulously tracing the interplay between mimetic characterization and the authors' ambitious goal to transform the reader, Kitzinger unveils a rich and nuanced tension. She demonstrates how Tolstoy and Dostoevsky masterfully craft characters that feel utterly authentic, capturing the essence of human nature and eliciting deep empathy from the reader.

What sets Mimetic Lives apart is its groundbreaking challenge to the prevailing notion that novels primarily serve as educational tools, offering enduring models for understanding the perspectives of others. Kitzinger delves into the deeper dimensions of realism, revealing the profound power of these novels to create a fully realized world of compelling fictional persons. However, she also acknowledges the limitations of this form, recognizing that the illusion of "life" within the pages of a novel can only go so far in terms of fostering spiritual, social, or political change.

Drawing on a wealth of scholarship in Russian literary studies and the theory of the novel, Kitzinger's lucid and insightful work of criticism will captivate scholars working in both fields. Her analysis offers a fresh perspective on the timeless, resonant themes explored by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, shedding light on the enduring legacy of their works and their profound impact on the art of storytelling. Mimetic Lives is a testament to the power of literature to transport us to new worlds, evoke emotions, and provoke thought, reminding us of the profound connection between the written word and the human experience.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810143975