在《10?章世界史》中，朱利安·巴恩斯在四个层面上用反讽打造该作品的多维空间格局，展现作品的复调意义：在结构和叙述模式层面上对正史进行戏仿；用重复的意象否定历史的进步性；在单个故事内部通过语言的不充分性展现相互质疑、相互对话的观念；从形而上的高度用全书否定解决矛盾的可能性。巴恩斯一面用反讽反抗主流权威话语，否定现实世界；一面用反讽质疑终极真理价值，否定理想世界。这部作品多维空间的建构隐喻和象征了世界的复杂性和人类生存的荒谬性。反讽既是画笔，又是巴恩斯对抗荒谬探求个人和共同体生存意义的武器。

With irony, Julian Barnes builds multi-dimensional space of A History of the World in 10?Chapters on four layers, and manifests its polyphonic meanings: It parodies official history on the layer of structure and narrative mode; by using repetitive images, it negates progressiveness of history; it presents inter-questionable and dialogical concepts in a single story through the insufficiency of language; in the metaphysical sense, it denies the possibility of resolving contradictions. By means of irony, in this work the author fights against mainstream authoritative discourse and shows his distaste of reality; at the same time, he questions ultimate truth and reveals his disbelief of the ideal world. Built multi-dimensionally, this novel metaphorizes and symbolizes the complexity of the world and the absurdity of human existence. Irony is the paintbrush for Barnes to draw the complexity and absurdity of the world, but also the weapon to fight against absurdity so to find the meaning of individual and community existence.