Introduction to Narratology – a new study by Jānis Ozoliņš – has just been published

A new study titled Introduction to Narratology by Jānis Ozoliņš, researcher at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (UL ILFA) and lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia, has been published by the UL ILFA publishing house. This is the first book in Latvian dedicated to the history, theory, and practice of narratology. The book’s design is by Klāvs Priedītis.

Introduction to Narratology invites readers to explore narratology across different time periods, while intentionally avoiding a repetition of the traditional ways in which the field's history and practices have been viewed by its canonical thinkers. Exploring various national schools that have contributed to the study of narrative in literary theory, the book emphasizes practical applicability in text analysis—understood not only as written texts, but any object of analysis in which a narrative can be identified.

At the center of this study is the short prose of Andra Neiburga, which serves as a compelling example for exploring the possibilities of analytical tools.

The book is structured into four chapters that introduce the most important narratological studies, definitions of narrative, tools of classical narratology, and postclassical approaches. The main text is supplemented by analysis examples, a summary in English, a bibliography, and a detailed index of names and terms.

Jānis Ozoliņš is a literary and cultural scholar, co-author and scientific editor of four books, and author or co-author of thirty academic articles on literature, cinema, and visual art. His research interests include the historical development of narrative theory, representations of masculinities and queerness in Soviet-era literature, visual and cinematic art, as well as studies of Gunārs Piesis’s archive and the literary legacy of Andra Neiburga.

The study was conducted as part of the state research program “Latvian Culture – a Resource for National Development” (2023–2026) under the project “Latvia’s Cultural Ecosystem as a Resource for National Resilience and Sustainability” / CERS (No. VPP-MM-LKRVA-2023/1-0001).