Naturalist Fiction The Entropic Vision [Paperback]

This is the first major study of naturalist fiction as a distinct literary genre.In Naturalist Fiction, the first major study of naturalist fiction as a distinct literary genre, Professor Baguley focuses mainly on French naturalist literature, analysing a number of key works in detail, as well as drawing on examples from other national traditions, particularly from the English novel.In Naturalist Fiction, the first major study of naturalist fiction as a distinct literary genre, Professor Baguley focuses mainly on French naturalist literature, analysing a number of key works in detail, as well as drawing on examples from other national traditions, particularly from the English novel.This is the first major study of naturalist fiction as a distinct literary genre. The author focuses mainly on French naturalist literature, but also draws examples from other national traditions, particularly from the English novel. Professor Baguley questions many traditional assumptions on important theoretical issues such as the nature of literary history, the concepts of realism and naturalism, and the relations between science and literature. He also analyzes a number of key works in detail. He demonstrates that, far from merely recording the external aspects of reality, naturalist fiction employs the strategies of realist art to convey a profoundly disturbing vision of that reality.Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Histories; 2. Theories: realism, naturalism, genre; 3. The founding texts; 4. The tragic model; 5. Comic strains; 6. In the ironic modes: naturalist satire and parody; 7. The 'scandal' of naturalism; 8. Naturalist description; 9. The entropic vision; 10. By way of conclusion: two English examples; Notes; Translations; Select bibliography; Index. ...brilliant, richly detailed new introduction to naturalist fiction...It is impossible to give here an adequate idea of this book's rich complexity, subtlety, depth, sophistication, formal beauty. Baguley, master bibliogl³q