Readings: The Poetics of Blanchot, Joyce, Kakfa, Kleist, Lispector, and Tsvetayeva (Volume 77) (Theory and History of Literature)

This book offers a series of striking textual studies of major literary figures and "emergent" authors. Written in an accessible, direct style the texts can be read as inspiration for Helen Cixous's fictional and critical practices. They not only introduce readers to writings from Brazil, Russia and Eastern Europe, they also give new, incisive insights into classic works such as Joyce's "Portrait of the Artist" and Kafka's "Before the Law". While the selection of texts reflects Cixous's ongoing concern with the origin of writing, with questions of love and the gift, and her insistence on pleasure, they also reveal her interest in problems of history. The juxtaposition of texts across centuries and national boundaires opens up exciting possibilities of multiple and fluid readings. Drawing on philosophy and psychoanalysis, this volume of readings can be read side by side with "Reading With Clarice Lispector" as an ongoing meditation on ethics and poetics Ceci est mditation sur la dernire heure. Lheure merveilleuse et impensable, lheure vers laquelle nous allons comme vers la vrit. Ma vrit, notre vrit, cette trangre, cette tranget dont le visage nous est promis voir, la fin. Et entretemps, toujours cette urgence : faire rsonner dans notre sicle lcho de cette Voix venue des origines. Clarice Lispector, on a peine mais aussi joie, croire quelle ait pu exister, tout prs de nous, hier, si loin en avant de nous. Aprs la comprhension, pas pas, elle savance en tremblant dans lincomprhensible paisseur frmissante du monde, loreille finissime, tendue pour recueillir jusquau bruit des toiles, jusquau minime frlement des atomes, jusquau silence entre deux battements de cur. H. C "The texts that compose this volume were selected from Hélène Cixous's seminars on Clarice Lispector given at the Université de Paris VIII-Vincennes at Saint Denis and at the Université de Philosophie between 1980 and 1985 ...They reflect Cixous' meditations on the art of reading, writing and related themes such as exchange and the gift, and love and passion, and trace the influence of Lispector's work on Cixous' own development." -- Provided by publisher Contents: "Sunday, before falling asleep": A primal scene -- Agua viva: How to follow a trinket of water -- The apple in the dark: The temptation of understanding -- "The egg and the chicken": Love is not having -- "Felicidade clandestina'': The promise of having what one will have -- The hour of the star: How does one desire wealth or poverty? Series Title: Theory and history of literature, v. 73. The texts that comprise this volume were selected from Cixous' seminars on the work of Clarice Lispector. They reflect Cixous' meditations on the art of reading, writing and related themes such as giving and loving as well as trace the influence of Lispector on Cixous' own development. Edited, translated, and introduced by Verena Andermatt Conley. The foremost French feminist literary critic pays homage to the premiere Latin American woman prose writer of this century. A leader in the feminist intellectual movement, Cixous presents this highly informative meditation on ethics and poetics which draws on philosophy and psychoanalysis. Hélène Cixous ; Edited, Translated, And Introduced By Verena Andermatt Conley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.