Polyphonic Novels

[ptyx]

The polyphonic novel is defined by Bakhtin as the one in which the character's voice is never ultimately submerged by that of the narrator. Bakhtin describes Dostoevsky's novels as “A plurality of independent and unmerged voices and consciousnesses, a genuine polyphony of fully valid voices

Comments

[sander123]

now I understand better!

At the moment I'm rather fond of the omniscient narrator - it's harder to write (to not have lapses) but the possibilities of becoming dull is slimner.

When you want to read a historical novel with the most interesting omniscient narrator at the beginning (any many different perspectives afterward) try:

Michel Faber: The crimson petal and the white one

This was a rec from snapesforte - Faber is now one of my favourite writers :)

the crimson petal centers around a prostitute in London 1875. And it's a joy to read :)

http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,,800292,00.html

At http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Petal-White-Michel-Faber/dp/015100692X

you can have a look at the first pages - it's hard to describe how the beginning is done, but I was astonished! Check it out for yourself.

[ptyx]

Oh, thanks for the recs. I'll read it tomorrow (or maybe by the end of next week, if I can't find time tomorrow), and then I'll let you know my opinion.

[ptyx]

Ahahahaha! What a hilarious, creative idea. I loved it. I don't want to use a contemporary narrator, though. And I don't think I'd like to have a narrator so interfering. But it's an inspiring reading, anyway. Thank you!