Despre Ioan P. Culianu si Mircea Eliade

Matei Călinescu recalls Ioan P. Culianu and Mircea Eliade. He also reads their work in depth. He came to know Culianu in Chicago through ties to Eliade. Eliade was Culianu’s mentor. Călinescu, too, had been close to Eliade.

The book blends memoir and essay. It began in September 2000 as a short tribute to Culianu. It grew into a study of both men. These life stories raise questions about texts and symbols. How should we read them in light of their times? Călinescu looks at meetings, partings, and his own life.

He sees this as a sequel he wrote alone to Amintiri. He wrote that book with Ion Vianu. It marked his return to Romanian letters after 1989. He had spent years in exile before that return.

This book forms part of the publisher’s Matei Călinescu author series. This edition revises and adds to the text. It includes translations by Mona Antohi.