The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature and Politics

This book explores literature's direct relationship to politics, offering new ways of thinking about the troubled relationship between literature and politics.

Christos Hadjiyiannis (Edited by), Rachel Potter (Edited by)

9781108840521, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 December 2022

350 pages
23.6 x 15.8 x 2.8 cm, 0.72 kg

For a long time, people had been schooled to think of modern literature's relationship to politics as indirect or obscure, and often to find the politics of literature deep within its unconsciously ideological structures and forms. But twentieth-century writers were directly involved in political parties and causes, and many viewed their writing as part of their activism. This Companion tell a story of the rich and diverse ways in which literature and politics over the twentieth century coincided, overlapped – and also clashed. Covering some of the century's most influential political ideas, moments, and movements, nineteen academic experts uncover new ways of thinking about the relationship between literature and politics. Liberalism, communism, fascism, suffragism, pacifism, federalism, different nationalisms, civil rights, women's rights, sexual rights, Indigenous rights, environmentalism, neoliberalism: twentieth-century authors wrote in direct response to political movements, ideas, events, and campaigns.

Introduction: Christos Hadjiyiannis and Rachel Potter
Part I. 1900–1945: Ideas and Governance: 1. Liberalism Christos Hadjiyiannis
2. Communism Matthew Taunton
3. Fascism Charles Ferrall and Dougal McNeill
4. Suffragism Clara Jones
5. Pacifism Bárbara Gallego Larrarte
Part II. 1945–1989: New Nations and New Frontiers: 6. Partitions Anindya Raychaudhuri
7. Federalism Ryan Weberling
8. Cold War Rachel Potter
9. Irish Nationalism Emer Nolan
10. Black Nationalism GerShun Avilez
11. Caribbean Nationalisms Alison Donnell
12. African Nationalisms Donna V. Jones
13. Apartheid Corinne Sandwith
Part III. 1989–2000: Rights and Activisms: 14. Women's Rights Rachele Dini
15. Sexual Rights Jo Winning
16. Indigenous Rights Christina Turner
17. Environmental Rights Jos Smith
18. Neoliberalism Peter Boxall.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], History of ideas [JFCX], Literary studies: post-colonial literature [DSBH5], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Literary theory [DSA]