「그로테스크의 책」 : 『와인즈버그, 오하이오』로 가는 길

“The Book of the Grotesque”: The Road to Winesburg, Ohio

In “The Book of the Grotesque,” Sherwood Anderson introduces his theory of the grotesque through the encounter and dialogue between an old writer and an elderly carpenter, establishing the archetypal relationship between George Willard and the grotesques that unfolds in the subsequent stories. The old writer states that grotesque theory has influenced his life, adding that it has enabled him to understand many people and things that he could never comprehend before. He discovers the hidden beauty beneath the surface of the outwardly bizarre grotesques and emphasizes the importance of understanding and empathy toward them, which reflects Anderson's artistic vision manifested in Winesburg, Ohio. As “The Book of the Grotesque” helps to understand the overall theme and structure of this loosely connected novel, this brief preface serves as a gateway that introduces readers to the world of Winesburg, Ohio.