Kritische Essays Zur Europaischen Literatur. --

En savoir plus sur le livre

The reputation of German scholar Ernst Robert Curtius is well-established among English and American readers, particularly through his influential work on European literature. However, much of his extensive oeuvre remains lesser-known. This collection of twenty-four essays, spanning nearly three decades, explores significant figures in European literature, including Virgil, Goethe, Balzac, Joyce, Eliot, Ortega y Gasset, and Hesse. Curtius's essays showcase his lucid and penetrating intellect, vast erudition, cosmopolitan perspective, and deep commitment to European culture. Like T. S. Eliot, whom he notably discusses, Curtius championed an ideal cultural unity of the West. Central to these essays is a dedication to preserving and promoting European humanistic culture, which he viewed as rooted in the literary legacies of Greece and Rome, enriched by Medieval Christian civilization. He focused on poets and writers aware of the interplay between these two traditions, striving to maintain their continuity in contemporary times. Curtius's exploration across Western languages and literatures contributed significantly to the preservation and relevance of this cultural heritage. Originally published in 1973, this collection is now available through the Princeton Legacy Library, which aims to enhance access to important scholarly works from Princeton University Press's extensive backlist.