To read a good book is like going to a great party. You are aesthetically
entertained, meet new and interesting people and, in an ideal world, witness some
real human drama fueled by the side effects of euphoria and excess. When transformed
into literature, parties are one of the most challenging topics of writing. In the
autonomous zone of celebration, world apart from daily life and routines, a writer,
just like any other guest, has to survey multitudes of synchronized social action to
stay on top of things. His task: to enjoy himself and please the reader at the same
time while being ahead of the crowd. Therefore the feast in literature can be read
as a playground to show narrative skills at work. The lecture will discuss the
stylistic and strategic approach towards parties in a few central texts of 20th
century literature from Thomas Mann to F. Scott Fitzgerald.