The Shape of Memory

‘The Shape of Memory offers a compelling new perspective on the very old tradition of thinking about memory in terms of space. […] With its geometry-informed readings of memory narratives by Günter Grass, Georges Perec, Patrick Modiano, and Martin Walser, The Shape of Memory is a major contribution to literary memory studies.’ – Astrid Erll, Author of Memory in Culture and Travels in Time
‘As elegant as it is erudite, Paul Leworthy’s extended meditation on the multiple forms and shapes memory takes in post-war European literature is an extraordinary achievement. By turns philosophical and profoundly analytical, The Shape of Memory will become a standard work in critical memory studies. And it is a pure pleasure to read!’ – James E. Young, Author of The Texture of Memory and The Stages of Memory
Objects and spaces often feature prominently in literary narratives about memory, but what is the role of such objects and spaces when they serve neither as memory media nor metaphors? To answer this question, this book explores how our embodied experience of the physical world has shaped how we talk and think about memory, exposing the essential importance of spatial dimensions. The concept of the ‘memory chronotope’ is introduced and put to use in analyses of novels by Günter Grass, Georges Perec, Patrick Modiano and Martin Walser, revealing how container and surface spaces in the texts articulate distinct conceptions of memory and attitudes towards specific histories. Combining memory theory, cultural history and literary analysis, this book surveys the role of objects and spaces in memory discourse, exposes the impact of embodied experience on thinking about memory, and offers a new lens for reading memory work in literary narratives – one focused on the ‘shape’ of memory.