Inventiones : Fiction and Referentiality in Twelfth-Century English Historical Writing

Combining literary theory and historiography, this text explores the relationship between history and fiction in the Latin literature of 12th-century England. The beginnings of fiction have commonly been associated with vernacular romance, but this book demonstrates that writers of Latin historical narratives also employed the self-referential techniques characteristic of fiction. Beginning with "inventiones", a genre dealing with the discovery of saints' relics, Otter reveals how exploring the fundamental problems of writing history and the nature of truth itself leads monastic or clerical Latin writers to a budding awareness of fictionality. According to Otter, accounts of conquests, treasure hunts, descents into underground worlds, and efforts (usually unsuccessful) to retrieve subterranean objects serve as self-referential metaphors for the problems of accessing and retrieving the past; they are thus designed to shake the reader's faith in historical representation and highlight the textuality of the historical account. Otter traces the self-conscious use of fictional elements within historical narrative throught he works of William of Malmesbury, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gerald of Wales, Walter Map and William of Newburgh. cover......Page 1 Local Disk......Page 0 page_iii......Page 2 page_iv......Page 3 page_ix......Page 4 page_v......Page 5 page_vii......Page 6 page_x......Page 7 page_1......Page 8 page_2......Page 9 page_3......Page 10 page_4......Page 11 page_5......Page 12 page_6......Page 13 page_7......Page 14 page_8......Page 15 page_9......Page 16 page_10......Page 17 page_11......Page 18 page_12......Page 19 page_13......Page 20 page_14......Page 21 page_15......Page 22 page_16......Page 23 page_17......Page 24 page_18......Page 25 page_19......Page 26 page_21......Page 27 page_22......Page 28 page_23......Page 29 page_24......Page 30 page_25......Page 31 page_26......Page 32 page_27......Page 33 page_28......Page 34 page_29......Page 35 page_30......Page 36 page_31......Page 37 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fc63c977b1366a491ce6b854da67eb7c.jpg......Page 293 fcc15d91029a680975284e8f69895e09.gif......Page 294 Combining literary theory and historiography, Monika Otter explores the relationship between history and fiction in the Latin literature of twelfth-century England. The beginnings of fiction have commonly been associated with vernacular romance, but Otter demonstrates that writers of Latin historical narratives also employed the self-referential techniques characteristic of fiction. Beginning with inventiones , a genre dealing with the discovery of saints' relics, Otter reveals how exploring the fundamental problems of writing history and the nature of truth itself leads monastic or clerical Latin writers to a budding awareness of fictionality. According to Otter, accounts of conquests, treasure hunts, descents into underground worlds, and efforts (usually unsuccessful) to retrieve subterranean objects serve as self-referential metaphors for the problems of accessing and retrieving the past; they are thus designed to shake the reader's faith in historical representation and highlight the textuality of the historical account. Otter traces this self-conscious use of fictional elements within historical narrative through the works of William of Malmesbury, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gerald of Wales, Walter Map, and William of Newburgh. Originally published in 1996. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

Combining literary theory and historiography, Monika Otter explores the relationship between history and fiction in the Latin literature of twelfth-century England. The beginnings of fiction have commonly been associated with vernacular romance, but Otter demonstrates that writers of Latin historical narratives also employed the self-referential techniques characteristic of fiction. Beginning with inventiones, a genre dealing with the discovery of saints' relics, Otter reveals how exploring the fundamental problems of writing history and the nature of truth itself leads monastic or clerical Latin writers to a budding awareness of fictionality. According to Otter, accounts of conquests, treasure hunts, descents into underground worlds, and efforts (usually unsuccessful) to retrieve subterranean objects serve as self-referential metaphors for the problems of accessing and retrieving the past; they are thus designed to shake the reader's faith in historical representation and highlight the textuality of the historical account. Otter traces this self-conscious use of fictional elements within historical narrative through the works of William of Malmesbury, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gerald of Wales, Walter Map, and William of Newburgh.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition — UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.