María Odette Canivell Arzú creëert verhalen die zich verdiepen in de ingewikkelde relatie tussen macht en identiteit. Haar literaire exploraties ontleden vaak de constructie van nationale symbolen en heldhaftige mythen, waarbij ze hun diepgaande invloed op het hedendaagse denken onderzoeken. Arzú combineert vakkundig literaire analyse met bredere culturele en politieke contexten. Lezers zullen haar werk verhelderend vinden, omdat het de complexe wisselwerking tussen literatuur, geschiedenis en intellectuele stromingen onthult.
Literary Narratives and the Cultural Imagination analyzes the cultural imaginaries of the United Kingdom and Spain through their national heroes, King Arthur and Don Quijote, and compares the ways in which they have been constructed as marketing tools.
National heroes are a staple of practically every culture in the world. Through the analysis of the traits, values and personality of heroes it is possible to get a glimpse into the psyche of a given culture. By examining the figures of Don Quijote de La Mancha and King Arthur, a comparison of the world view, of the mores, and of the ideal characteristics that made Spain and Great Britain choose these exceptional representatives can be attained, highlighting the similarities and differences between both cultures.