Corona Fictions Anthologies. On the Compilation of Hispanophone and Francophone Corona Fictions in the First Lockdown

This article examines eight anthologies (4 francophone, 4 hispanophone) conceptualized and composed during the first lockdown in the worldwide COVID-19 crisis, so-called Corona Fictions anthologies. Against the background of the classic anthological format, it describes the reasons indicated by the different editors for their anthologization endeavors, revolving around the three groups of categories of documentation and preservation, support and empowerment, as well as inspiration and preparation. Hereon, the article explores predominant topics, genres, and narrative situations in the Corona Fictions anthologies, supporting these findings with examples from the collections. Finally, it discusses what lessons about the COVID-19 crisis can be taken from them extending beyond literary studies.