French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Louis, L'invention de Troie
History, Politics and Society

Annick Louis,

L'invention de Troie. Les vies rêvées de Schliemann

Éditions de l'École des hautes études en sciences sociales,

coll. "En temps & lieux", 2020

ISBN 9782713228490

360 pages

Overview:

The child who dreams of Troy. The international merchant captivated by Homeric heroes. The archaeologist who discovers the site of the mythical city and Priam's treasure. The self-taught man accused of being a fraud. The polyglot who spoke at least thirteen languages. To all these facets of Heinrich Schliemann, this book adds that of the author of four distinct autobiographies, constructed through borrowings from other narrators—Homer, newspaper articles, local legends, letters from family members, and unknown correspondents. Schliemann chronicles his life while glossing over the training that transformed a businessman in his forties into a scientific hero, at a time when archaeology had not yet gained formal disciplinary recognition. The exemplary status acquired by these autobiographies prompts us to question our attachment to certain narrative forms, ultimately highlighting the meaning that emerges in the interstices between what is stated and what is concealed.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

The Lives of Schliemann

Foreword. The Enigma of Troy

Chapter One. Autobiography as a Site of Knowledge

Chapter 2. The Birth of a Calling - Dreaming a Calling - The Flip Side of the Dream: The Concealed Apprenticeship

Chapter 3. Practices of the Dream

Chapter 4. From the Mechanics of Languages to Narrative

Conclusion. After Schliemann

Published by the Éditions de l École des hautes études en sciences sociales in the collection En temps et lieux, this study examines how Heinrich Schliemann crafted multiple versions of his life story. Rather than accepting the standard narrative of a self-taught merchant who magically transformed into a pioneering archaeologist, Annick Louis investigates the composite nature of these texts. Schliemann borrowed from Homeric epics, contemporary journalism, family correspondence, and local legends to construct a legendary persona during a formative era when archaeology was still emerging as an academic discipline.

This scholarly investigation will appeal to readers interested in life-writing, historiography, and the construction of modern myths. By analyzing the gaps between what Schliemann reveals and what he conceals, the author prompts a broader reflection on our reliance on specific narrative structures. The book sheds light on the complex relationship between personal myth-making and historical inquiry, making it a valuable resource for students of literature and cultural history seeking to understand the mechanics of nineteenth-century self-representation.