Politics and Literature at the Turn of the Millennium

Politics and Literature shows how important insights about genocide, poverty, state violence, world terrorism, the clash of civilizations, and other phenomena haunting the world at the turn of the millennium can be derived from contemporary novels. Keren demonstrates ways in which fictional literature can provide new perspectives on the complexities and contingencies of contemporary politics. His fresh readings of well-known novels will be valuable not only for political scientists but also for anyone interested in current affairs who reads fiction but is not always aware of its power to provide enlightenment on world issues. Works by José Saramago, Cormac McCarthy, Anosh Irani, John Le Carré, and Yann Martel, among others, are studied. This Book Shows How Important Insights About Genocide, Poverty, State Violence, World Terrorism, The Clash Of Civilizations, And Other Phenomena Haunting The World At The Turn Of The Millennium Can Be Derived From Contemporary Novels. Keren Demonstrates Ways In Which Fictional Literature Can Provide New Perspectives On The Complexities And Contingencies Of Contemporary Politics. His Fresh Readings Of Well-known Novels Will Be Valuable Not Only For Political Scientists But Also For Anyone Interested In Current Affairs Who Reads Fiction But Is Not Always Aware Of Its Power To Provide Enlightenment On World Issues. Works By José Saramago, Cormac Mccarthy, Anosh Irani, John Le Carré, And Yann Martel, Among Others, Are Studied.-- Politics In Literature -- The Original Position In José Saramago's Blindness -- Absurdity And Revolt In Cormac Mccarthy's The Road -- The Bystander's Tale : Gil Courtemanche's A Sundady At The Pool In Kigali -- Fiction And The Study Of Slums : Anosh Irani's The Cripple And His Talismans -- Narrative And Memory In Haruki Murakami's Kafka On The Shore, Günter Grass's Crabwalk And André Brin's The Rights Of Desire -- The Politics Of Victimhood In John Le Carré's Abolute Fiends -- The Quest Of Identity In Sayed Kashua's Let It Be Morning -- Political Escapism In Contemporary Israel : David Grossman's To The End Of The Land -- Body And Mind In Margaret Atwood's Oryx And Crake -- A Canadian Alternative To The Clash Of Civilizations : Yann Martel's Life Of Pi. Michael Keren. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 243-247) And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format. "This book shows how important insights about genocide, poverty, state violence, world terrorism, the clash of civilizations, and other phenomena haunting the world at the turn of the millennium can be derived from contemporary novels. Keren demonstrates ways in which fictional literature can provide new perspectives on the complexities and contingencies of contemporary politics. His fresh readings of well-known novels will be valuable not only for political scientists but also for anyone interested in current affairs who reads fiction but is not always aware of its power to provide enlightenment on world issues. Works by José Saramago, Cormac McCarthy, Anosh Irani, John Le Carré, and Yann Martel, among others, are studied."-- Provided by publisher