The Cambridge Companion to War Writing

This Companion covers British and American war writing from Beowulf to Don DeLillo.

Kate McLoughlin (Edited by)

9780521895682, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 July 2009

292 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.8 cm, 0.59 kg

'… timely and relevant.' Contemporary Review

War writing is an ancient genre that continues to be of vital importance. Times of crisis push literature to its limits, requiring writers to exploit their expressive resources to the maximum in response to extreme events. This Companion focuses on British and American war writing, from Beowulf and Shakespeare to bloggers on the 'War on Terror'. Thirteen period-based chapters are complemented by five thematic chapters and two chapters charting influences. This uniquely wide range facilitates both local and comparative study. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field and includes suggestions for further reading. A chronology illustrates how key texts relate to major conflicts. The Companion also explores the latest theoretical thinking on war representation to give access to this developing area and to suggest new directions for research. In addition to students of literature, the volume will interest those working in war studies, history, and cultural studies.

Chronology
Introduction Kate McLoughlin
Part I. Themes: 1. The idea of war Hew Strachan
2. War and words Kate McLoughlin
3. People in war Sarah Cole
4. War zones Adam Piette
5. War in print journalism Kate McLoughlin
Part II. Influences: 6. The Bible David Jasper
7. Classical war literature L. V. Pitcher
Part III. Poetics: 8. Medieval warfare Corinne Saunders
9. Early modern war writing and the British Civil Wars Philip West
10. The eighteenth century and the Romantics on war Gillian Russell
11. American Revolutionary War writing Edward Larkin
12. The Victorians and war John R. Reed
13. The American Civil War Will Kaufman
14. The First World War: British writing Trudi Tate
15. The First World War: American writing Patrick Quinn
16. The Spanish Civil War Valentine Cunningham
17. The Second World War: British writing Mark Rawlinson
18. The Second World War: American writing Walter Hölbling
19. American writing of the wars in Korea and Vietnam Jeffrey Walsh
20. The Cold War and the 'War on Terror' David Pascoe
Index.

Subject Areas: History [HB], Literary studies: general [DSB], Literature & literary studies [D]