First published in 1992, Narrative Exchanges shows how a general model of communicative exchanges can be refined to deal with the complexities of narrative fiction. Going beyond the two-way structure of reciprocity, it gives particular attention to the processes of framing, substitution and dispossession by which written texts generate meaning. The title provides an innovative way of combining narrative and exchange theory, bringing the two areas of thought into a mutually critical relationship. Using a wide variety of narrative texts, literary and non-literary, canonical and non-canonical, authors discussed include Flaubert, Achebe, Mansfield, Boccaccio, Duras, Daudet, Moorhouse, DeLillo and Wordsworth.

Drawing on perspectives from anthropology, linguistics and education, and combining accessible readings with theoretical debate, Ian Reid makes a significant contribution to the debate about narrative theory.

Reviews

"Narrative Exchanges makes some challenging and refreshing new moves in narrative theory. Skilfully argued and critically acute, it is that rare thing, a work of critical theory that is both stimulating and a pleasure to read." - Ross Chambers, publisher's reader (quoted on dustjacket).

"witty and challenging...an excellent introduction to this complex and contentious field...Reid opens up a fascinating political arena." - Anne Cranny-Francis, Australian Campus Review.

"...reads texts clearly and intelligently, without distorting them to fit his thesis...Narrative Exchanges is a solid though modest addition to the theory of fiction, which students of narratology will find helpful." - M.J. Hoffman, Modern Fiction Studies.

"Reid's is an attractively dynamic model of what happens in the act of reading... I am not sure that a radical advance beyond Reid's kind of thinking is immediately possible." - Andrew Gibson, Towards a Postmodern Theory of Narrative.

"Reid is trying...to take narrative theory to a new stage. Put simply, this book examines the way in which exchanges occur in narrative texts, and the way in which they are framed, which has implications for what texts can be made to mean....Any concern about the general effectiveness of [this] model ... is dispelled by the range of coverage in Narrative Exchanges... Reid's book should be seen in the tradition of the dynamicists, but should be recognised as the most powerful work in this tradition to date." - David Matthews, Southern Review.

Book Information
ISBN 9781138800946
Author Ian Reid
Format Hardback
Page Count 276
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 670g