The Poetics of Quotation in the European Novel

The book presents a fresh perspective on the history and poetics of the novel, highlighting the interplay of seriousness and playfulness in literature. Emil Staiger praises the author's ability to discuss literary techniques with both depth and grace. It explores the art of quoting in the works of Rabelais, Cervantes, and Sterne, and examines how these techniques evolved through six significant novelists, from Wieland to Thomas Mann, showcasing their contributions to literary scholarship.