This essay studies the case of Mario Praz’s collecting both as a cultural and behavioural phenomenon and as a method of writing. The initial focus is on Praz’s obsessive interest for William Beckford, himself one of the most exuberant collectors of his time as well as a refined writer of fiction. Praz’s autobiographical novel "La casa della vita", structured as a guided tour of his house-museum, reveals the inner conflict between the antiquary and the collector, two psychological types simultaneously shaping Praz’s personality. Derrida’s reflections on the question of the archive help explain the way Praz deals with memory and temporality in his narrative.
Il saggio analizza il caso dell’ossessione da collezionismo di Mario Praz, prima attraverso la mania per William Beckford, a cui Praz dedica svariati studi durante la sua vita, e successivamente concentrandosi sul romanzo autobiografico "La casa della vita", che è strutturato in forma di visita guidata in un interno. Dall’esaltazione al disincanto per Beckford, Praz rivela un derridiano mal d’archivio che si manifesta nel conflitto irresolubile a una personalità perennemente scissa tra collezionista e antiquario, due modi antitetici di concepire e vivere il tempo.
Mario Praz: ‘pezzo da museo tra pezzi da museo'
NIEDDA D
2006-01-01
Abstract
This essay studies the case of Mario Praz’s collecting both as a cultural and behavioural phenomenon and as a method of writing. The initial focus is on Praz’s obsessive interest for William Beckford, himself one of the most exuberant collectors of his time as well as a refined writer of fiction. Praz’s autobiographical novel "La casa della vita", structured as a guided tour of his house-museum, reveals the inner conflict between the antiquary and the collector, two psychological types simultaneously shaping Praz’s personality. Derrida’s reflections on the question of the archive help explain the way Praz deals with memory and temporality in his narrative.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.