Da Teoria do Romance ao Romance Histórico: a questão dos gêneros em G. Lukács

Abstract

Following the different concepts of novel and discussions about genre throughout Lukács’ works, the aim is to show that although in his early books such as The Mind and its Forms and the Theory of Novel forms were understood as non-temporal and idealised structures (they already were taken as problematically, given that the discussion concerning forms gives rise to a reflection on temporality. In the Historical Novel, published in the 30’s, the modern manifestation of the genre is defined as Epic, as a pre-history of the present, a definition that brings elements to the formation of an autonomous Marxist aesthetics. In doing so, Lukács doesn’t break up with the previous reflections upon the subject but rather radicalises the historical element present on the reflection on forms.