G. Călinescu, theoretician of biography: negotiation and selection strategies

The present paper aims to reconstruct G. Călinescu’s conception of the biographical genre in general and of biography ‒ as a discursive narrative, in particular. The stage of this conception of the biographical genre are examined in relation to Călinescu’s aesthetic thinking in general, as reflected in his reference works, including "Principles of Aesthetics". Additionally, Călinescu’s models, from whom he adopted certain often antinomic ideas are also discussed. Sainte-Beuve, Gustave Lanson, Hippolyte Taine and Benedetto Croce are some of the figures who shaped the Romanian author’s conception of representing the author as a human being with circumstantial, historical and social determinants. Starting from Andrei Terian’s observation regarding the existence of paradoxes within Călinescu’s critical system, this paper attempts to demonstrate that through the practice of biography writing, the author managed to reconcile, through negotiation and selection strategies, two diametrically opposed ideologies: determinism, Sainte-Beuve – Hippolyte Taine, and idealism, represented by Benedetto Croce. The exploration of contradictions and antinomies often opens new horizons of knowledge.