1st Edition
The Major Literary Seminars of Jacques Lacan Literature, Lituraterre, Litterature
The Major Literary Seminars of Jacques Lacan considers the three key phases of Lacan’s interest in literary topics.
Santanu Biswas first examines the seminars given between 1955 and 1961, in which Lacan spoke on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story "The Purloined Letter", Hamlet, Sophocles’ Antigone, and Paul Claudel’s The Coûfontaine Trilogy, and where literature is related to meaning. This is followed by an exploration of Lacan’s seminar on "Lituraterre" in 1971, wherein Lacan elaborates on the different ways in which literature appeared to turn towards lituraterre. Finally, Biswas considers Lacan’s 1975–1976 seminar on James Joyce, who created literature out of “litter” and was concerned with jouissance rather than with meaning.
The Major Literary Seminars of Jacques Lacan will be of great interest to Lacanian psychoanalysts, other mental health practitioners interested in the teachings of Lacan, and academics and students of Lacanian studies, literature, and psychoanalysis.
1. “The Purloined Letter” 2. Hamlet 3. Antigone 4. The Coûfontaine Trilogy 5. “Lituraterre” 6. James Joyce
Biography
Santanu Biswas is Professor of English at Jadavpur University in India and a psychoanalyst. He is a member of the Lacan Circle of Australia and an associate member of Réseau Universitaire Européen, Paris. He is an editorial board member of (Re)-Turn: A Journal of Lacanian Studies (U.S.A.), Psychoanalysis Lacan (Australia), and Objek želje (Slovenia), and editorial advisory board member for The Lacanian Review: Hurly-Burly (France).
“An excellent, thorough and serious work of research on the links between literature and psychoanalysis orientated by the teachings of Jacques Lacan. Written in a highly enjoyable style and tone, this erudite yet accessible work should be a mandatory reference for anyone interested in the latest research in this interdisciplinary area.”
Miquel Bassols Puig Psychoanalyst, A.M.E., Member and Former President of the W.A.P.
“Shaped by exquisitely meticulous research on Lacan’s 'Literary' seminars, this original volume is a beautiful literary work in itself. To read this book is to dive into the littoral, where the speaking-being’s letter and litter rejoin. I hope the book will be translated into other languages. It’s definitely worth it.”
Gustavo Dessal Psychoanalyst, A.M.E., Member of the W.A.P., and novelist.
