L accueil critique des premiers ouvrages de theodore dreiser et de henry miller : l evolution des horizons d attente
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Abstract EN:
Theodore dreiser and henry miller embody the development of 20th century american literature, from realism to postmodernism. Both were subject to controversy before finally being admitted to the literary canon. How did these two "rebels" become the writers of "classics"? first, this study considers the critical reception of dreiser's sister carrie (1900) and jennie gerhardt (1911), and of miller's tropic of cancer (1934) and black spring (1936), at the time they were first published. A broad range of sources is taken into account in order to reconstruct the "horizons of expectations" which influenced early readers. Next, current readings are examined, with an emphasis on the diversity of contemporary opinion. It is no longer possible to place these works, on the pretext of their obsenity or nihilism, outside the cultural debate. On the contrary, they are intimately involved in it.
Abstract FR:
Theodore dreiser et henry miller incarnent le developpement de la litterature americaine du xxe siecle, du realisme au post-modernisme. Tous les deux ont ete vigoureusement contestes avant d etre enfin admis au pantheon des lettres. Comment ces deux "rebelles" sont-ils devenus des "classiques"? dans un premier temps, nous etudions comment furent accueillis sister carrie (1900) et jennie gerhardt (1911) de dreiser, puis tropic of cancer (1934) et black spring (1936) de miller, au moment de leur parution. Nous essayons de reconstruire les "horizons d attente" a partir d un large eventail de sources. Dans un deuxieme temps, nous proposons une explication des livres qui tienne compte des valeurs actuelles. Ces "lectures contemporaines" se sont appuyees sur des notions suffisamment souples pour prendre en compte des points de vue varies. Il n est plus possible de rejeter ces oeuvres, sous pretexte d obscenite ou de nihilisme, hors de notre culture. Au contraire, elles y participent intimement.