Title: Palimpsestes
Subtitle: la littérature au second degré
First published: 1982
Description: By definition, a palimpsest is "a written document, usually on vellum or parchment, that has been written upon several times, often with remnants of erased writing still visible." Palimpsests (originally published in France in 1982), one of Gerard Genette's most important works, examines the manifold relationships a text may have with prior texts. Genette describes the multiple ways a later text asks readers to read or remember an earlier one.

In this regard, he treats the history and nature of parody, antinovels, pastiches, caricatures, commentary, allusion, imitations, and other textual relations.
Subjects: Literature, Adaptations, Imitation in literature, Sequels (Literature), Parody, Imitation (in literature), Comparative Literature, Themes, motives
LC classification: PN166 .G46 1982