Viktor Shklovsky
10 books
About the Author
Viktor Shklovsky (1893–1984) was a pioneering Russian literary theorist, critic, and writer whose innovative ideas profoundly shaped 20th-century literature and film theory. A key figure in the Formalist movement, Shklovsky emphasized the concept of 'defamiliarization' (ostranenie), arguing that art's purpose is to make the familiar strange, thereby renewing perception and combating the automatism of everyday life. Born in St. Petersburg, he navigated the turbulent eras of the Russian Revolution and Soviet regime, often facing censorship and exile for his bold intellectual pursuits. His essays and memoirs blend sharp analysis with personal narrative, influencing generations of thinkers from Roman Jakobson to contemporary narratologists. Shklovsky's legacy endures in his eloquent defense of artistic freedom and the transformative power of language.
Common genres
Writing style
analytical
witty
autobiographical
Books by Viktor Shklovsky
