TSVETAN TODOROV, COMPASSIONATE PILGRIM

Abstract

Tsvetan Todorov (1939 – 2017) was an internationally celebrated sociologist and literary theorist, who also made substantial contributions to the ongoing struggle to establish a viable humanist dialogue. This paper honors some of his contributions to the humanities, mentioning his work in genre theory and stylistics and emphasizing the importance of his work to increased intercultural awareness and tolerance, with specific reference to his characterization of the fantastic, his essay “How to Read,” and two of his monographs, The Morals of History and Imperfect Garden: The Legacy of Humanism.