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Abstract

Study of aesthetic success is one of the core topics in empirical aesthetics (Martindale, 1990; Petrov, 1992; Simonton, 1986). Instead of going into complexities of what makes aesthetic objects permanently or temporarily successful, this study outlines a hypothesis which, in accord with Vygotsky (1971), claims that aesthetic success partly depends on the object's capacity of fulfilling social needs. More specifically, it is assumed that successful historical novels represent an almost ritual history of a national group in a subtle way, thereby providing generations of their readers with historical continuity and a sense of positive identity. By analyzing the two most successful Hungarian historical novels, the study identifies social psychological patterns of narrative composition, which seem to be more or less general at least for Western civilization. Results also reflect some idealized features of the Hungarian national identity.

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Representation of National Identity in Successful Historical Novels

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