Language, Politics and Writing: Stolentelling in Western Europe

Language, Politics and Writing demonstrates the links and parallels between literature and politics in Western Europe. Patrick McCarthy looks at the history of the twentieth century by wedding together literary and political events and texts, and examines the ways in which they interact and influence each other. Refreshingly free of jargon, this book interweaves literary, aesthetic, mass media, political and historical themes. McCarthy provides readers with an intellectual commentary on the persistent cultural traditions in European nations, highlighting the fact that these traditions have been enriched by the “dialogue” of regional integration. An expert on the culture of Western Europe, McCarthy highlights particular points in the political history of Western Europe and analyzes a writer or work from the same period to illustrate compelling connections between literature and politics.

Language, Politics and Writing demonstrates the links and parallels between literature and politics in Western Europe. Patrick McCarthy looks at the history of the twentieth century by wedding together literary and political events and texts, and examines the ways in which they interact and influence each other. Refreshingly free of jargon, this book interweaves literary, aesthetic, mass media, political and historical themes. McCarthy provides readers with an intellectual commentary on the persistent cultural traditions in European nations, highlighting the fact that these traditions have been enriched by the “dialogue” of regional integration. An expert on the culture of Western Europe, McCarthy highlights particular points in the political history of Western Europe and analyzes a writer or work from the same period to illustrate compelling connections between literature and politics.

Foreign Affairs

Having read this often dazzling collection of essays on literature and politics, I still do not know what its learned author means by "stolentelling." He is fascinated by the many uses of language for "committed" writing about politics and for escape from politics, for buttressing power and for protest, for describing the working class and for celebrating imperialism. Many important writers, from James Joyce to V. S. Naipaul, from George Orwell to Seamus Heaney, are discussed here, as well as several movie directors, sociologists, and statesmen. McCarthy offers perceptive commentary on all of them, thanks to his inexhaustible curiosity and attention to the many functions and types of language. The other side of this talent is that he leaves the reader somewhat exhausted — fixing one's eye to a kaleidoscope for hours is both exhilarating and bewildering. Each of these essays should be savored separately. Their collection may be a case of too many admirable things.

Patrick McCarthy is Research Professor at Johns Hopkins University, Bologna Center. He was Professor of European Studies at JHU, Bologna. He is the author of many books including The Crisis of the Italian State and France-Germany in the Twenty-First Century.