The Interdependence of Literature

"The Interdependence of Literature" by Georgina Pell Curtis is a study of how different literary traditions from various times and places are linked together. Written in the early 1900s, it explains how the writings of ancient groups like the Babylonians, Hebrews, Indians, Persians, and Europeans relate and have shaped each other. The book starts by explaining that all literature is connected, with stories and ideas being borrowed and changed by different cultures. Curtis begins with old writings, showing how Hebrew literature is fundamental but also pointing out even older works from Babylon and Egypt. She uses examples of how old stories and poems helped create religious texts, especially noting the importance of Moses' writings. The author wants readers to see literature as a constantly changing mix of ideas influenced by shared cultural history, leading to a more detailed look at the specific connections that make up our literary past.