Imagining Iraq : Literature in English and the Iraq Invasion

In the run-up to, during and after the invasion of Iraq a large number of literary texts addressing that context were produced, circulated and viewed as taking a position for or against the invasion, or contributing political insights. This book provides an in-depth survey of such texts to examine what they reveal about the condition of literature. "An enormous number of literary texts engaged with the build-up towards, undertaking of and aftermath of the recent invasion of Iraq. This book both provides a survey of such texts and presents a particular critical perspective on them. Many were regarded as taking a position for or against the invasion, but this study neither attempts to hold authors to account for their political choices nor tries to reach a moral consensus on the invasion. The idea here is to examine how certain literary texts appeared within and "spoke" to a specific socio-political context, not merely to reckon with that context but to understand the condition of contemporary literature generally. Focusing primarily on literature in English made available in the U.S.A. and U.K. while debates about the Iraq invasion were uppermost in the public consciousness, texts in a wide range of forms are examined here: from poetry anthologies to individual poetry collections, plays on current events to revivals of classical plays, action thrillers to literary fiction and personal blogs"-- Provided by publisher "An enormous number of literary texts engaged with the build-up towards, undertaking of and aftermath of the recent invasion of Iraq. This book both provides a survey of such texts and presents a particular critical perspective on them. Many were regarded as taking a position for or against the invasion, but this study neither attempts to hold authors to account for their political choices nor tries to reach a moral consensus on the invasion. The idea here is to examine how certain literary texts appeared within and "spoke" to a specific socio-political context, not merely to reckon with that context but to understand the condition of contemporary literature generally. Focusing primarily on literature in English made available in the U.S.A. and U.K. while debates about the Iraq invasion were uppermost in the public consciousness, texts in a wide range of forms are examined here: from poetry anthologies to individual poetry collections, plays on current events to revivals of classical plays, action thrillers to literary fiction and personal blogs"--Résumé de l'éditeur Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgements 8 1. Making War: Introduction 9 Setting the tone 9 Theme, text, reality 21 2. ‘Laws’ for Poets: Poetry Anthologies 40 A special relationship 40 Three anthologies 42 3. Exacting World: Individual Poetry Collections 74 Anger and poetry 74 Side by side 89 My readings 103 4. To Smash the Mirror: Theatre 104 Frontline drama 104 Record of reality 113 Domestic and national 128 Classics 133 Performance and statement 146 5. A Joint Enterprise: Fiction 149 Action thrillers 149 ‘Literary fiction’ 162 6. Windows into Life-Worlds: Blogs and Conclusion 178 Fear and two blogs 178 Conclusion: in other languages 192 References 199 Index 212 Front Matter....Pages i-viii Making War: Introduction....Pages 1-31 ‘Laws’ for Poets: Poetry Anthologies....Pages 32-65 Exacting World: Individual Poetry Collections....Pages 66-95 To Smash the Mirror: Theatre....Pages 96-140 A Joint Enterprise: Fiction....Pages 141-169 Windows into Life-Worlds: Blogs and Conclusion....Pages 170-190 Back Matter....Pages 191-210

Before, during and after the invasion of Iraq a large number of literary texts were produced, circulated and received as taking a position for or against the invasion, or as contributing political insights. This topical new book provides an in-depth survey of such texts and examines what they reveal about the condition of literature.

Machine generated contents note: Acknowledgements Making War: Introduction 'Laws' for Poets: Poetry Anthologies Exacting World: Individual Poetry Collections To Smash the Mirror: Theatre A Joint Enterprise: Fiction Windows into Life-Worlds: Blogs and Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index.