Inventing caves. Romantic pre-histories.
The word and the rest| N° d'inventaire | 31576 |
| Format | 14.8 x 21 |
| Détails | 472 p., paperback |
| Publication | Marseille, 2025 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782384315673 |
Since the recognition of the antiquity of our species in the 19th century, the world of the "cave man" has fascinated both the general public and major authors such as Proust and Malraux. The novel echoes this attraction to origins and, from La Guerre du feu by Rosny aîné to Les Enfants de la terre by Auel and including Les Héritiers by Golding , writers of prehistory have established themselves as inventors in the same way as speleologists. While the prehistoric novel is usually judged by the degree of respect for scientific knowledge, Inventing Caves shifts the perspective to carry out an internal reading of the works and question the links established between them. The excavation work, attentive to the writings of prehistorians sometimes tempted to tell stories, stops at the literature that surfaces today, but also unearths an ancient and forgotten production. The essay traces the contours of an imaginary world whose horizon is not only made up of male violence, exclusion of the Other and mysterious shamans, it also opens onto preserved natural environments, strong women and laughter of joy.
Since the recognition of the antiquity of our species in the 19th century, the world of the "cave man" has fascinated both the general public and major authors such as Proust and Malraux. The novel echoes this attraction to origins and, from La Guerre du feu by Rosny aîné to Les Enfants de la terre by Auel and including Les Héritiers by Golding , writers of prehistory have established themselves as inventors in the same way as speleologists. While the prehistoric novel is usually judged by the degree of respect for scientific knowledge, Inventing Caves shifts the perspective to carry out an internal reading of the works and question the links established between them. The excavation work, attentive to the writings of prehistorians sometimes tempted to tell stories, stops at the literature that surfaces today, but also unearths an ancient and forgotten production. The essay traces the contours of an imaginary world whose horizon is not only made up of male violence, exclusion of the Other and mysterious shamans, it also opens onto preserved natural environments, strong women and laughter of joy.