Narratology: introduction to the theory of narrative

TLDR

Mieke Bal's *Narratology*, first published in 1985, is an international classic that systematically examines narrative techniques, methods, transmission, and reception, distilling years of study on how we understand literary and non‑literary works. The third edition aims to update the book with expanded film narrative analysis, clearer language for readability, and new sections that clarify modernist texts posing narratological challenges. The authors revise the text by adding film narrative analysis, tightening language for readability, and including new sections on modernist texts. The revisions, informed by a decade of scholarly and pedagogical feedback, confirm that *Narratology* remains the most important contribution to understanding how narratives work, are formed, and are received.

Abstract

Since its first publication in English in 1985, Mieke Bal's Narratology has become the international classic and comprehensive introduction to the theory of narrative texts. Narratology is a systematic account of narrative techniques, methods, their transmission, and reception, in which Bal distills years of study of the ways in which we understand both literary and non-literary works. In this third edition, Bal updates the book to include more analysis of film narratives while also sharpening and tightening her language to make it the most readable and student-friendly edition to date. Bal also introduces new sections that treat and clarify several modernist texts that pose narratological challenges. With changes prompted by ten years of feedback from scholars and teachers, Narratology remains the most important contribution to the study of the way narratives work, are formed, and are received.