Collective patchwork novel: specifics of the new genre

The article seeks to substantiate the theory of the newest literary genre – collective patchwork novel, viewed as a subgenre of collective literary patchwork. This research is based on literary experiments involving the creation of large-scale collective works by a significant number of authors from diverse geographical regions. The results of these experiments were presented as several patchwork novels, the concepts of which are analysed in this article. It turns out that collective literary patchwork as the newest genre of literary art is evolving into subgenres, one of which is collective patchwork novel. An endeavour is made to provide a definition of the genre of collective patchwork novel in both a broad and narrow sense. So, in the broad sense, a collective patchwork novel is understood as a large-scale epic work that integrates a set of works of various genres in form and content created by a group of authors based on the prologue and common concept to the work. In the narrow sense, a collective patchwork novel is defined as a large epic work that combines a set of works of different genres in form and content, created by a group of authors. The work under discussion is based on a common theme or idea that interacts with one or more key characters within the agreed premise and location(s) of events, as set out in the work’s concept and prologue. The defining features of the new genre under discussion are identified as collaborative authorship based on a common concept and prologue, multi-plot structure, multi-genre nature, multilingualism among others. The article proposes a general schematic design of the new genre and demonstrates its implementation generalising the particular concepts embodied in the practice of making a series of collective patchwork novels.