L'atlante e l'archivio. Esperienze di antropologia letteraria in Judith Schalansky, Christoph Ransmayr e Gerhard Roth

In contemporary German-speaking literature, anthropological questions constitute not only a recurring theme but also an opportunity for experimentation. This book examines three works in which the imaginative scope of the atlas extends beyond its geographical origins and enters into dialogue with various archives. The atlases by Judith Schalansky, Christoph Ransmayr and Gerhard Roth – entitled ‘Atlas der abgelegenen Inseln’, ‘Atlas eines ängstlichen Mannes’ and ‘Atlas der Stille’ respectively – take shape as narrative constructions that bring to light anthropological materials drawn from both real and virtual archives. Short and very short texts, biographical fragments, captions and graphic elements offer glimpses of realities that are at once abyssal and unsettling. What emerges is a commitment to an anthropology of singularity, articulated through techniques and narrative strategies that are currently attracting increasing attention.