About the book
The Gardens of Desire is at once a model of literary interpretation and a groundbreaking psychocritical reading of a literary masterpiece, Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu (Remembrance of Things Past). Shedding new light on the origins of the creative impulse in general, and on the psychological origins of the Recherche in particular, the book illuminates the hidden associations between matricidal, suicidal, sadistic, masochistic, homoerotic, and creative impulses as manifested in Proust's work. The book moves beyond traditional Freudian readings of Proust to consider the theories of Otto Rank, Jacques Derrida, and others, and provides provocative readings of the \"privileged moments\" that comprise many of the work's \"critical cruxes,\" as well as a thought-provoking rereading of the novel's ending. Both elegant and accessible, this book boldly explores the violence of desire as it relates not only to Proust's narrator, but also to Proustian criticism itself, with its own violent desire to appropriate the essence of Proust's masterpiece.
Editions of The Gardens of Desire
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780791461136
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780791461143
- PDF
- ISBN 9780791484968
Read an Excerpt
The Gardens of Desire is at once a model of literary interpretation and a groundbreaking psychocritical reading of a literary masterpiece, Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu (Remembrance of Things Past). Shedding new light on the origins of the creative impulse in general, and on the psychological origins of the Recherche in particular, the book illuminates the hidden associations between matricidal, suicidal, sadistic, masochistic, homoerotic, and creative impulses as manifested in Proust's work. The book moves beyond traditional Freudian readings of Proust to consider the theories of Otto Rank, Jacques Derrida, and others, and provides provocative readings of the \"privileged moments\" that comprise many of the work's \"critical cruxes,\" as well as a thought-provoking rereading of the novel's ending. Both elegant and accessible, this book boldly explores the violence of desire as it relates not only to Proust's narrator, but also to Proustian criticism itself, with its own violent desire to appropriate the essence of Proust's masterpiece.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Gardens of Desire about?
The Gardens of Desire is at once a model of literary interpretation and a groundbreaking psychocritical reading of a literary masterpiece, Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu (Remembrance of Things Past). Shedding new light on the origins of the creative impulse in general, and on the psychological origins of the Recherche in particular, the book illuminates the hidden associations between matricidal, suicidal, sadistic, masochistic, homoerotic, and creative impulses as manifested in Proust's work. The book moves beyond traditional Freudian readings of Proust to consider the theories of Otto Rank, Jacques Derrida, and others, and provides provocative readings of the \"privileged moments\" that comprise many of the work's \"critical cruxes,\" as well as a thought-provoking rereading of the novel's ending. Both elegant and accessible, this book boldly explores the violence of desire as it relates not only to Proust's narrator, but also to Proustian criticism itself, with its own violent desire to appropriate the essence of Proust's masterpiece.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Gardens of Desire?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary theory
Where can I read a sample of The Gardens of Desire?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780791461136
How long is The Gardens of Desire and how many pages does it have?
The Gardens of Desire has 253 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Gardens of Desire?
Stephen Gilbert Brown
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Gardens of Desire is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780791461136) and paperback(ISBN 9780791461143) and pdf(ISBN 9780791484968)
Where can I buy The Gardens of Desire online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Gardens of Desire from below
Where can I buy The Gardens of Desire?