Sienkiewicz is more than a juggler of genius in narrative prose. This conservative writer knew that no unproblematic representation of reality was possible. The energy of his narratives disturbs narrative order and exposes the heteronomy of a superficially unified style, thus generating fissures, but never ruining the architecture of the text.

This book presents an interdisciplinary investigation into the emergence of the actor and the theater. It explains the role of bipedality, toolmaking and trance in the evolution of the performer, examines the performativity of space and writing, and argues that ancient culture emerged from dance.