Fiction and Social Reality

Mariano Longo is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Salento, Italy.

• Introduction; Features and structure of narratives; The cognitive value of fictional narratives; Narratives and sociology: at the roots of a forgotten tradition; Writing sociology: social sciences as texts; When sociologists use literary sources; On the sociological use of narratives

’Literature, in particular fictional narratives, has had a great appeal to sociologists. Mariano Longo’s book demonstrates why this is no coincidence. It moves from the basics of narratology and theories of fictional narratives to a discussion of the relationship between sociology and literature. It is a solid and very welcome contribution to the field.’ Svend Brinkmann, Aalborg University, Denmark ’Longo's book is a perfect example of a successful encounter between narratology and sociology. It has been tried before, but rarely with such rewarding results. The book offers both methodological advice and fascinating theoretical insights. To be read by all social scientists, students and professors alike.’ Barbara Czarniawska, University of Gothenburg, Sweden ’This is an eloquent, erudite and original study on the relationship between literature and sociology. Drawing on an impressive range of sources, Mariano Longo invites us to challenge the seeming incompatibilities between rhetoric and fact, narrative and objectivity and to think afresh about the literary text as a powerful device of sociological imagination. His achievement is to offer us an illuminating account of sociology as a creative art, as a poetics of science.’ Lilie Chouliaraki, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK