Modernism and Literature - 9780415581646

Modernism is a key era in literary studies in which the reading and writing of literature was transformed. The Modernist movement smashed the boundaries of what was perceived as ‘literary’, with writers abandoning traditional conventions and drawing on a variety of very different influences from art to politics.

Modernism is difficult to understand without an awareness of contemporary concerns, and Alan Friedman and Mia Carter offer a comprehensive guide to Modernism:

• An extensive introduction outlining the history and debates surrounding the movement
• Extracts from the foundational texts of Modernism such as Zola, Darwin, Nietzsche, Einstein and Freud
• Extracts showing Modernist writers as critics including James, Wilde, Conrad, Woolf, Eliot, Yeats and Lawrence
• A chronology including key historical events and publications
• A glossary of key terms, people, theories and themes
• A detailed further reading section offering advice on further study and research.

Addressing current as well as historical debates about Modernism, this book includes discussion of the Harlem Renaissance, feminism and women’s writing, international and global movements and acknowledges a variety of competing modernisms. This is the ideal guide for anyone looking for an overview of this complex genre, and its original, foundational texts.

The companion website features an interactive timeline connecting Modernist literature with the events of the time, brief author biographies, and links to further reading.