Course MR512 · Year II · Autumn 2026-2027

The Literature of the Romanian Exile

Compulsory course in Romanian literature and culture in European context, taught by Maria Georgeta Orian.

Overview

Lecturer
Maria Georgeta Orian
Seminar tutor
Maria Georgeta Orian
Type of course
Compulsory
Language of instruction
Romanian
Erasmus language
English, French
Domain
Philology - Masters
Field of study
Romanian literature and culture in European context
Form of education
Full-time
Form of instruction
Lecture
Credit awarded by
Grade
Teaching methods
Cooperative Learning, Lecture, Student-Centered / Constructivist Approach
Entry requirements
It is preferable for the student to have attended the courses of the six semesters of Romanian Literature, Culture and Civilization (Bachelor's degree)

Aims

to include the most important moments of the Romanian literary exile, in chronological evolution, within European culture into a coherent structure

to practice close reading

to write a synthesis essay on the most important Romanian writers in Exile

Course contents

1. General overview of The Romanian Exile after World War II: problems regarding the terminology; special cases boundaries. Fundamental problems of literary exile: cultural identity, adapting problems (changing languages, literary productivity, aesthetic strategy, the type of reader, the ethical significance in the literature).

2. „Waves” of exile (periodization); regions; "Exile groups". Associations, magazines, publishing houses, cultural communication in exile. General overview of Romanian press in exile.

3. „Exile before exile”: Dora d’Istria, Ana de Noailles, Martha Bibescu, Elena Văcărescu, Iulia Hasdeu. A "case" difficult to classify: Panait Istrati. A Romanian writer in the American literary space: Peter Neagoe. A Romanian writer in South America: Grigore Cugler-Apunake.

4. Political Exile – the „Old Generation”: Mircea Eliade, Eugen Ionescu, Emil Cioran, Vintilă Horia, C. V. Gheorghiu, Ştefan Baciu, Aron Cotruş, Pamfil Şeicaru, Al. Busuioceanu, Al. Ciorănescu.

5. The Exile during the Ceauşescu period (the ’60s-’70s): Petru Popescu, Matei Călinescu, Virgil Nemoianu, I. P. Culianu, Sanda Golopenţia, Constantin Eretescu; Sanda Stolojan, Virgil Ierunca, Monica Lovinescu, Paul Goma, Dumitru Ţepeneag, Virgil Tănase, Alexandru Vona; I. Negoiţescu, S. Damian, Gelu Ionescu, Sorin Alexandrescu, Gabriela Melinescu, Emil Hurezeanu.

6. The Exile during Ceausescu's communist regime (the ’80s): Ion Caraion, Nicolae Balotă, Norman Manea, Bujor Nedelcovici, Dorin Tudoran, Mircea Iorgulescu, Matei Vişniec.

7 Artistic exile: A Workshop. The Cultural Diaspora: Ionel Jianu, Pavel Chihaia, Ion Vlad, George Apostu, Horia Damian, Camilian Demetrescu etc.

Learning outcomes

A synthesis essay regarding the recovery of the literature from exile after 1989: assessment and values, "signifiers" of the literary exile; cultural policy controversies related to the concept of "exile" and current research.

Assessment

• Conversation; free exposition – 25% • Applications; essay writing; portfolio, project – 25% • Written paper, quiz; test - 50%

Recommended reading

Beyond the Iron Curtain Revisiting the Literary System of Communist Romania
Ștefan Baghiu/ Ovio Olaru/ Andrei Terian (eds.)
Peter Lang, Berlin, 2021 · 9-42
Romanian Literature as World Literature
Mircea Martin, Christian Moraru, and Andrei Terian (eds.)
Bloomsbury, New York:, 2018 · 111-350
La religion, une « politique » du salut en exil: le cas de l’ecrivain roumain Vintila Horia
Georgeta Orian
„Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et studia”, nr. XVII, Poznan, 2010 · 259-270