THE DRAMATIC MODEL IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMIL PETRESCU’S NOVELS
THE DRAMATIC MODEL IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMIL PETRESCU’S NOVELS

Summary/Abstract: Camil Petrescu stands out as a central figure in Romanian literature thanks both to the complexity of his novelistic and dramatic work and to his fondness for theoretical knowledge, reflected in a variety of literary themes and topics. A charismatic presence and an innovative writer with an open mind towards the new techniques in Western literature and philosophy, Petrescu often emerged as an unusual presence in a segment of literature, prose, which was plagued Romanian authors’ constant lack of synchronization vis-à-vis Western literature. The connections which can be drawn between Petrescu’s theoretical voice and his voice as a novelist and playwright are numerous and open up endlessly new ways of interpreting a series of writings which are deeply rooted in these theoretical endeavours. Having failed as a playwright due to the nature of his theatrical formula, which was better suited for reading rather than for stage performance (the theatre ‘of ideas’), Petrescu did excel, however, in applying the theatrical pattern to novels, not only in terms of structure, but also in terms of what he demanded from the actors, especially in the footnotes of Procust’s Bed.

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