A Self-Conscious Art is the first full-length study in English to attempt to deal with the formal complexities of Modiano's work, by reading 'against the grain' of his self-professed ingenuousness. A detailed examination of his narratives shows the deeply postmodern nature of his writing. Parodying precursors such as Proust or the nouveau romanciers, his narratives are built around a profound lack of faith in the ability of writing to retrieve the past through memory, and this failure is acknowledged in the discreet playfulness that characterises his novels. This book is a timely introduction to the work of one of the most successful modern French novelists.
- ISBN10 0853235260
- ISBN13 9780853235262
- Publish Date 1 December 2000
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 14 April 2011
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Liverpool University Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 176
- Language English