French Literature Reviews - 2026
V. Kaufmann, Déshéritages
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics
Bibliographic reference: Vincent Kaufmann, Déshéritages, Furor, 2015. EAN13: 9782970092568. 176 pages. 18 euros
Major works are not born from networks of influence meticulously cataloged by a philological notary, but rather from interruptions, rejected inheritances, breakdowns, and accidents in family romances. Where there was an inheritance, I break away in order to come into my own. I am destined to write within or in view of what is described here in terms of disinheritance, and that is a fortunate opportunity. To this end, the book summons the examples of Stéphane Mallarmé, Francis Ponge, Louis Aragon, Guy Debord, and Olivier Rolin, which stand in stark contrast to our era's obsessive preoccupation with cultural heritage.
In the study of modern literature and intellectual history, the notion of literary heritage has long been central to how scholars trace genealogies and artistic movements. Rather than viewing creation as a smooth transmission of traditions, critical inquiry often highlights the productive role of rupture and deliberate estrangement from predecessors. The figures examined in this book occupy key positions within French literature and avant-garde movements, each negotiating the weight of cultural inheritance in distinct ways.
Readers interested in the intersections of modern literary creation, theories of influence, and avant-garde traditions may find Déshéritages relevant. Vincent Kaufmann addresses the theme of disinheritance by drawing on the trajectories of Stéphane Mallarmé, Francis Ponge, Louis Aragon, Guy Debord, and Olivier Rolin, contrasting these paths with contemporary preoccupations with cultural heritage and transmission.