REVIEWS
Unlikely Stories: Causality and the Nature of Modern Narrative:
- “His book has [. . .] brought together a coherent set of theoretical ideas and critical essays that add up to a genuine contribution to the theoretical study of literary narrative. Unlikely Stories is an important addition to the discussion of narrative theory.” – Style
- “Whereas other editors have had to limit themselves to whatever selections seem to them necessary, Richardson’s superb introductions, which give exhaustive accounts of the work done throughout history on each topic, make his anthology also a fine survey of far more than what he has been able to include. Richardson’s introductions are a stroke of genius . . .” – Modernism/Modernity
- “The editor has not only done a first-rate job in presenting such a variety of viewpoints, however, he also deserves ample praise for having provided the reader with excellent introductions. . . . This intelligently conceived, well-organized and very useful anthology . . . . will soon be the classic anthology for all courses on the subject” – LWU: Literatur in Wissenschaft und Unterricht
- A “groundbreaking and field-defining book,” Astrid Ensslin and Alice Bell, Digital Narratives and the Unnatural, p. 123.
- “A landmark in narrative analysis and in the study of modern and postmodern fiction generally” – Modern Fiction Studies
- “A major contribution to narratology” – Style
- “A miraculously concise and rich reconsideration of models of narrative voice. . . . Each chapter not only sums up but considerably extends the theoretical debate, with copious and diverse illustrations from a thrilling array of narrative and dramatic texts” – Studies in the Novel
- “Richardson’s editorial apparatus, as well as his own contribution to the collection, is noteworthy. In accordance with its aims, Narrative Beginnings will undoubtedly inaugurate a new period of thinking about beginnings” – Comparative Literature Studies
- “Each of the three parts begins with a preface in which Brian Richardson, the editor, provides a short introduction by expertly relating the respective part to other literature on beginnings. [T]he analyses in Narrative Beginnings are all outstanding . . . . I predict that the collection will serve as the starting point of or impetus for a broader diachronic investigation of beginning strategies.” – Style
- “This is the most dynamic introduction to narrative theory in print. It will work well for all academic readers and it is a must-have for any scholar working in narrative theory.” – Choice
- “The book is extremely timely. It is also highly original. There have been many excellent introductions to narratology, but none has taken the form of a discussion among four experts. . . . Narratology has become a forum for discussion, and Narrative Theory provides a perfect model for this kind of interaction” – Frame
- “Narrative Theory is a well-written, challenging and inspiring discussion of fundamental questions of narrative theory. . . . I wholeheartedly recommend it to all scholars and graduate students . . . . The volume offers the unique opportunity to watch some of the most famous experts in narrative theory engage in a discussion of four elaborate approaches they have developed with great theoretical expertise.” – Journal of Narrative Theory
- “It is truly gratifying and rewarding to read work by and debates among some of the world’s leading scholars working in various fields of narrative studies. . . . A must read book for all students and scholars in narrative studies.” – Style
- “an indispensable resource for specialists.” – Fabula
- “It is superb” – Suzanne Keen, Narrative Form, 2nd ed., xvi
- “A Poetics of Unnatural Narrative touches on all the relevant research fields and all of the important theoretical texts. There are many fascinating debates within the contributions, and some traditional narratological concepts are revisited with rewarding results. This volume promises to be an important and provocative contribution to narrative theory.” – Alan Palmer
- “The collection is a broad examination of the current state of the field by those who have been most influential in shaping the discussion.” – Choice
- “Taken together, the articles provide an immensely multi-faceted and appropriately complex account of the unnatural” – ZAA: Zeitschrift für Anglistik u Amrikanistik
- “A Poetics of Unnatural Narrative makes a valuable contribution.” – Style
- “By addressing core questions concerning assumptions, methods, and purposes of unnatural narratology, the book demonstrates the vitality of this new field of research with rewarding results. A Poetics of Unnatural Narrative will certainly be of great interest to all scholars interested in narrative studies – across disciplines –, as well as in history and theory of modern fiction. Accessibly written, this volume promises to be an indispensable resource accounting for the most radical and provocative movement in narrative theory.” – Irina Marchesini, Diegesis 4.1
- “This volume brings together a distinguished group of international critics, scholars, and historians of literature that includes several of the world’s leading narrative theorists. . . . Rarely have these fundamental concepts been subjected to such an original and thoroughgoing reconceptualization. . . . This anthology will be of great interest to students and scholars of narrative studies and of the history and theory of modern fiction.” – Poetics Today
- “Crisp, lively, and widely informed, bursting with pertinent literary evidence from a vast swath of reading, its sweep both varied and revealing” – Garrett Stewart.
- “A synthesis of his work in unnatural narratology. . . . [Richardson] is a brilliant close reader and invariably comes up with enriching interpretations of the strangest stories” – Style
- “An essential read for students and teachers interested in postclassical narratology in general and unnatural narrative studies in particular” – Orbis Litterarum
- A “spirited, wide-ranging, and thought provoking book . . . . Unnatural Narrative offers an abundance of riches”; “remarkable work” – Poetics Today
- “An important contribution to the field of narratology” – Diegesis
- “[Richardson] extends the narratological toolbox by introducing new analytical categories that help us to come to terms with innovative and experimental forms of narrative ordering and narrative emplotment [and] offers … an impressive overview of innovative textual experiments in the history of world literature. … The volume will certainly appeal to a wide readership, including narratologists, literary scholars working on (post)modernist and contemporary fiction, informed readers of world literature, and students of literary history. In short: a must-read for anyone interested in experimental fiction.” – Diegesis
- “Richardson’s ever expanding knowledge of world historical literature—ancient and contemporary, arcane and canonical—allows him, seemingly without effort, to put things in a fresh light—a rare pleasure in academic prose” – H. Porter Abbott
- “Wide-ranging, thought-provoking, and important” – Gerald Prince, Style
- The book “poses entertaining and instructive insights into the issues at stake in consolidating unnatural narratology” – Paul Dawson
- “Richardson concisely encapsulates a selection of highlights from the full range of his earlier books and articles, successfully addressing multiple audiences . . . with a book that can be profitably studied by both veterans and novices, and read as both a summation and an introduction, not just for his own work, but also for the recent history of narrative theory.” – Style