French Literature Reviews - 2026

The Times of History
Comparative and World Literature

THE TIMES OF HISTORY
Studies on Danilo Kiš

Edited and introduced by
Alexandre Prstojevic

L'Harmattan, 2003,
ISBN: 2-7475-4720-5

History was Danilo Kiš's favorite subject. Often called "the Borges of the Balkans," he never stopped digging through authentic or imaginary archives to restore dignity to the anonymous victims of the Holocaust and Stalinism.

Comprising eight papers delivered at the Danilo Kiš symposium held at the University of Bordeaux III, this volume is a plea for a free and renewed reading of this major author of our century. It advocates for a theoretical approach that examines the interplay between fiction and document, between history as it is lived and reflected upon, and the "stories" told to us. It also brings together a set of perspectives—converging, conflicting, or overlapping—that invite a fresh, detailed, and patient close reading of an author deeply rooted in our times.

Contributions by <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Jean-Pierre Morel, Guy Scarpetta, Paul-Louis Thomas, Guy Verret, Alexandre Prstojevic, Massimo Rizzante, Alexandre Gefen, Milivoj Srebro.

Danilo Kiš is known for his engagement with the historical traumas of the twentieth century, including the Holocaust and Stalinism. His narrative universe frequently blurs the boundaries between documentation and imaginative creation, prompting ongoing critical interest in the role of the archive in storytelling. Within the broader tradition of European writing, his oeuvre stands out for its intellectual depth and focus on historical themes.

This volume gathers critical perspectives from scholars examining the intersections of literature, history, and documentary evidence in Kiš's work. By analyzing the relationship between lived experience and historical narrative, the contributions offer varied approaches to his texts. Readers interested in contemporary European literature and the aesthetics of historical memory may find this collection relevant to their study of twentieth-century narrative forms.