Elias Canetti’s «Babylonian Library»

E. M. Shastina; J. K. Kazakova

doi:10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-5-343-359

Elias Canetti’s «Babylonian Library»

E. M. Shastina, J. K. Kazakova

https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-5-343-359

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Abstract

This study examines Elias Canetti’s (1905–1994) novel Auto-da-Fé as a chronicle of one man’s library and the tragedy of its owner, who ultimately loses his connection to reality. The analysis reveals that the authorial triad— «the head without a world», «the headless world», and «the world within the head»— serves as a metaphor for a world «in a state of disintegration» (Canetti). The relevance of this inquiry stems from two primary imperatives: first, the necessity to comprehend the role of the library as a vehicle of cultural transfer; second, the significance of the «library» motif within literary fiction. By invoking Jorge Luis Borges's metaphor of the «Library of Babel», the concept of the «library» is interpreted as both a social and spiritual institution. It unites texts of world literature into a continuous whole — a seamless entity symbolizing humanity's accumulated knowledge, which is preserved and transmitted across generations. Particular attention is devoted to the idiosyncratic narrative organization of the novel. This paper argues that provocation, parody, and paradox — as facets of the overarching narrative strategy — intensify the author’s intentionality. These elements reflect the writer’s credo by highlighting the interplay between the rational and irrational, the constructive and the destructive. It is noted that Canetti succeeds in eliciting a genuine spectrum of emotions from the reader, ranging from astonishment and outrage to an acceptance of multiple interpretations instigated by both the implied author and the narrator. The novelty of this research lies in its chosen perspective, analyzing the work through the lens of narratology.

Keywords

Canetti, Babylonian Library, narrative strategy, provocation, parody, paradox

About the Authors

E. M. Shastina

Kazan (Volga region) Federal University
Russian Federation

Elena M. Shastina, Doctor of Philology, Professor, Department of German Philology

Kazan

J. K. Kazakova

Kazan (Volga region) Federal University
Russian Federation

Julia K. Kazakova, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor, Department of English Philology and Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication

Kazan

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Review

For citations:

Shastina E.M., Kazakova J.K. Elias Canetti’s «Babylonian Library». Nauchnyi dialog. 2026;15(5):343-359. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-5-343-359

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