Historical Impact on Individual's Identity in Central-European Prose

AbstractHistory is a recurrent theme in Central-European literary works written by Hermann Broch, Robert Musil, Milan Kundera, Witold Gombrowicz or Josph Roth and it is often expressed through a resent-laden discourse. As for Central Europe, the present depends on the past and the “remnant” history of a space characterised by a variable geometry is bound to be received not only from the urban architectural perspective, but also through the nostalgic filter of the people dwelling in it. History is also closely connected to memory, this being perceived as a wide vision of the past which is projected at present. Over time perception of events alters as individuals change themselves, their memories and experiences becoming more or less vigorous according to the context. The present paper deals with the interdependence of history and memory as well as their impact on the future evolution of individuals