Recesses of the Mind : On Aesthetics Gubergur Bergsson's Work

Birna Bjarnadottir constructs a deep and comprehensive argument for Bergsson's significance as a master of narrative. Crossing centuries, oceans, and continents, her contextualization of Bergsson's aesthetics stretches from his native land's literary tradition to the cultural domains of Europe and North and South America. Her investigation of his ideas on beauty, love, and belief, presented as a dialogue between Bergsson and numerous other writers and philosophers - Plotinus, Augustine, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Blanchot - is a striking reflection on some of the most important questions of modern times. Recesses of the Mind introduces a profound writer to the international stage. The book's exploration of the cultural periphery is equally significant, suggesting new interpretative strategies for considering cultural contributions from isolated places Recesses Of The Mind Explores Guðbergur Bergsson's Aesthetics Of Life And Literature. Bergsson - Like So Many Writers Whose Language Is Not Widely Spoken Or Read - Is Scarcely Known Outside His Homeland, But The Psychological Depth Of His Vision Reveals The Minds Of His Characters In Ways That Are Reminiscent Of Novelists Such As Hamsun, Faulkner, And Garcia Márquez. Birna Bjarnadóttir Constructs A Deep And Comprehensive Argument For Bergsson's Significance As A Master Of Narrative. Crossing Centuries, Oceans, And Continents, Her Contextualization Of Bergsson's Aesthetics Stretches From His Native Land's Literary Tradition To The Cultural Domains Of Europe And North And South America. Her Investigation Of His Ideas On Beauty, Love, And Belief, Presented As A Dialogue Between Bergsson And Numerous Other Writers And Philosophers - Plotinus, Augustine, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Blanchot - Is A Striking Reflection On Some Of The Most Important Questions Of Modern Times. Recesses Of The Mind Introduces A Profound Writer To The International Stage. The Book's Exploration Of The Cultural Periphery Is Equally Significant, Suggesting New Interpretative Strategies For Considering Cultural Contributions From Isolated Places. Content: ""Cover"" ""Title"" ""Copyright"" ""Contents"" ""Acknowledgments"" ""Preface"" ""1 Aesthetics in Modern Literature: The Mindâ€?s Tormented Love"" ""2 Fragments from the History of Aesthetics in Iceland"" ""3 The Human Image during the Formative Phases of Christianity and in the Era of the Dizzying Void"" ""4 Participation in Beauty"" ""5 When Paradoxes Are Allowed to Unfold"" ""6 The Roots of Individual Aesthetics: On the Creative Boundaries between Life and Art"" ""7 Dialogue with Icelandic Culture and Society"" ""Epilogue: Consecration to Reality"" ""Appendix 1 “Ideas on Beautyâ€?""""Appendix 2 Flatey-Freyr"" ""Notes"" ""Bibliography"" ""Index"" ""A"" ""B"" ""C"" ""D"" ""E"" ""F"" ""G"" ""H"" ""I"" ""J"" ""K"" ""L"" ""M"" ""N"" ""O"" ""P"" ""R"" ""S"" ""T"" ""U"" ""V"" ""W"" Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Preface 12 1 Aesthetics in Modern Literature: The Mind’s Tormented Love 20 2 Fragments from the History of Aesthetics in Iceland 52 3 The Human Image during the Formative Phases of Christianity and in the Era of the Dizzying Void 89 4 Participation in Beauty 109 5 When Paradoxes Are Allowed to Unfold 137 6 The Roots of Individual Aesthetics: On the Creative Boundaries between Life and Art 170 7 Dialogue with Icelandic Culture and Society 198 Epilogue: Consecration to Reality 237 Appendix 1 “Ideas on Beauty” 244 Appendix 2 Flatey-Freyr 258 Notes 276 Bibliography 290 Index 308 A 308 B 308 C 310 D 310 E 310 F 310 G 311 H 311 I 312 J 312 K 312 L 312 M 313 N 313 O 313 P 314 R 314 S 314 T 315 U 315 V 315 W 315 A detailed discussion of the aesthetics of Icelandic novelist and poet Guethbergur Bergsson A detailed discussion of the aesthetics of Icelandic novelist and poet Guðbergur Bergsson