Why is Transnational Literature Full of National Novels?

What is it about?

Guest-edited by Jernej Habjan, this special issue of CRCL/RCLC is devoted to a rethinking of the conjuncture between the nation and the novel in light of the contemporary persistence of the novel despite the rise of post-nationalist types of social bond. Contributions by Nancy Armstrong with Leonard Tennenhouse, Alexander Beecroft, Suman Gupta, Caren Irr, Marko Juvan, Emilio Sauri, and the editor jointly trace the history of the novel and the nation from the joint rise of the two forms to the current moment of the prevalence of the former despite the crisis of the latter.

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Why is it important?

This “Introduction” to a special issue of CRCL/RCLC theorizes the paradox that the national novel is the main genre of most attempts to define post- or transnational literature.