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......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Setting the tone......Page 10 Theme, text, reality......Page 22 A special relationship......Page 41 Three anthologies......Page 43 Anger and poetry......Page 75 Side by side......Page 90 My readings......Page 104 Frontline drama......Page 105 Record of reality......Page 114 Domestic and national......Page 129 Classics......Page 134 Performance and statement......Page 147 Action thrillers......Page 150 'Literary fiction'......Page 163 Fear and two blogs......Page 179 Conclusion: in other languages......Page 193 References......Page 200 Index......Page 213

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.