Fictional Truth (Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society) 1st edition by Riffaterre, Michael (1990) Paperback

Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society

by Michael Riffaterre

"It almost goes without saying that a new book by Michael Riffaterre is an important book... and Fictional Truth does not disappoint... Essential reading for everyone interested in the way narrative works."--Modern Fiction Studies."There is no doubt that this book is indispensable not only for critics and students of the novel but for anyone who has considered the paradox of fictional truth.'"--Queen's Quarterly.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beyond grateful to Martijn Boven, my university teacher on this second iteration of the course ‘Philosophy of Fiction’ (the first having been taught by Frank Chouraqui, and actually failed by me, for which I have become — perhaps paradoxically —equally grateful), for introducing us, me, to this text. It signals towards the same point that my intuition signals towards regarding truth contained in literature, or as Riffaterre himself puts it, fiction. I would, in my lifetime, have not been able to produce it to this degree of clarity (which is still complex and obtuse, but not because of a lack of skill or understanding of the author’s, rather because of its avant-garde position; it’s difficult to put to words what has not been put to words before, let alone that which has not been properly perceived before), or at least not have been able to produce much more than this. I’m so grateful to texts, artefacts (including more than only texts, also drawings, music, etc.), such as these for saving me the time of having to clarify this myself. It opens up the possibility of discovering things that have not been discovered yet, so as to provide others with the help I am receiving here.

First ever text I have decided to purchase myself after having already finished an edition that was not my own. Half I’ve read in printed version, the other half as a university library loan. This will definitely be a reference piece I’ll return to often, during my upcoming essay, and both of my theses.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este foi outro daqueles livros que encontrei na biblioteca da UFSC por acaso, buscando outras coisas semelhantes. Michael Riffaterre faz uma análise da ficção principalmente no seu aspecto literário e da forma como a verdade funciona dentro da ficção. Um exemplo de verdade ficcional é "Harry Potter usa óculos e tem uma cicatriz na testa", mas Riffaterre vai muito além no que trata sobre a verossimilhança na ficção, inclusive diferenciando verdade ficcional de verossimilhança. Ele inclui em sua análise um rol de autores que estudaram a linguagem e a narrativa como Austen, Balzac, Dickens, James, Meredith, Proust e Trollope. No final do livro, o autor inclui um glossário onde explica de forma bastante clara todos os conceitos que usa na sua análise. Este livro acabou trazendo boas contribuições para a minha pesquisa. Não achei o livro que queria, mas acabei achando um melhor.

[Jessica Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I always make a promise when I start a book I finish it, but this one severely tested my resolve. It was clearly written by a professor to impress other professors. I would guess this is an example of a tenure requirement fulfilled.

[فلاح رحيم · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riffaterre reminds us that we don't need to agree with the Structuralist poetics to appreciate his deep Structuralist insights into the art of the realist fiction!

[Steven Felicelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riffaterre theorizes that even realist fiction predicates 'truth' on tropes and phraseology, rather than verisimilitude