The Quest for Epic in the 19th Century Historical Novel

FAIN: FA-10515-72

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY 14850-2820)
William W. Holdheim (Project Director: August 1972 to present)

A study of the quest for epic in the 19th century historical novel in four representative works (Hugo, Tolstoy, Stifter, Flaubert). He will attempt to show that the structural ambiguity in these novels stems from an effort to recreate a modern replica of ancient epic and to synthesize it with the modern novel.