The Aesthetics of Gyorgy Lukacs

This book-length treatment of Gyorgy Lukacs' major achievement, his Marxist aesthetic theories. Working from the thirty-one volumes of Lukacs' works and twelve separately published essays, speeches, and interviews, Bela Kiralyfalvi provides a full and systematic analysis for English-speaking readers. Following an introductory chapter on Lukacs' philosophical development, the book concentrates on the coherent Marxist aesthetics that became the basis for his mature literary criticism. The study includes an examination of Lukacs' Marxist philosophical premises; his theory of the origin of art and the relationship of art to life, science, and religion; and his theory of artistic reflection and realism. Later chapters treat the concepts of type and totality in Lukacs' category of specialty, the distinctions between allegory and symbolism in his theory of the language of art, and Lukacs' understanding of aesthetic effect and form and content in art. There is a separate chapter on Lukacs' dramatic theory. This lucid and readable account of Lukacs' aesthetic theories will be of special interest to students of literature, aesthetics, and drama. In addition, it will be appreciated by those generally concerned with Marxist theory. Originally published in 1975. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.