“The history of literature is not a chronicle of books, but a psychology of genius.”Titu Maiorescu · Critice · 1874 · Critice (Despre critică)
Maiorescu rejects the idea that literary history is a mere list of books and dates. Its true task is to understand the psychic mechanisms of the creative genius—how they think, feel, and transform experience into art. For example, studying Romanian literature means entering Eminescu's inner universe, not just listing his poems.
Why it matters For today's reader, this perspective encourages empathetic and deep reading, seeking the person behind the text, not just biographical information.