French Literature Reviews - 2026
C. Dominguez, D. Villanueva & H. Saussy, Introducing Comparative Literature. New Trends and Applications
Comparative and World Literature
Review published in Acta Fabula (January 2016, vol. 17, no. 1): "Portes d’entrée qwerty" by Didier Coste.
***
Cesar Dominguez, Dario Villanueva and Haun Saussy, Introducing Comparative Literature. New Trends and Applications
Oxford: Routledge, 2014.
EAN 9780415702683.
169 p.
Price EUR 31
Publisher's overview:
Introducing Comparative Literature is a comprehensive guide to the field offering clear, concise information alongside useful analysis and examples. It frames the introduction within recent theoretical debates and shifts in the discipline whilst also addressing the history of the field and its practical application. Looking at Comparative Literature within the context of globalization, cosmopolitanism, and post- or transnationalism, the book also offers engagement and comparison with other visual media such as cinema and e-literature. The first four chapters address the broad theoretical issues within the field such as 'interliterary theory', decoloniality, and world literature, while the next four are more applied, looking at themes, translation, literary history, and comparison with other arts. This engaging guide also contains a glossary of terms and concepts as well as a detailed guide to further reading.
Cesar Dominguez is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Dario Villanueva is Professor of Literary Theory and Comparative Literature at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Haun Saussy is University Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Chicago, USA.
Comparative literature as an academic discipline has long occupied a central space within literary studies and the broader humanities, traditionally bridging linguistic boundaries and national canons. Over recent decades, the field has expanded considerably to engage with transnational movements, globalization, and theoretical shifts such as world literature and decoloniality. Scholars in this domain frequently examine how texts circulate across cultural divides, intersect with translation practices, and dialogue with various forms of artistic expression beyond the traditional printed page. Introducing Comparative Literature is situated within these ongoing methodological developments.
This volume addresses both the historical foundations of comparative literary study and its contemporary applications across eight chapters. The initial section engages with broad theoretical debates including interliterary theory, while subsequent sections explore thematic comparison, translation, literary history, and intermedial relations with cinema and electronic literature. Readers interested in contemporary methodological debates within literary studies may find it relevant. Authored by Cesar Dominguez, Dario Villanueva, and Haun Saussy, the book also provides a glossary of terms and a guide to further reading for students and researchers.