The Cambridge Companion to Lesbian Literature (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

The Cambridge Companion to Lesbian Literature examines literary representations of lesbian sexuality, identities, and communities, from the medieval period to the present. In addition to providing a helpful orientation to key literary-historical periods, critical concepts, theoretical debates and literary genres, this Companion considers the work of such well-known authors as Virginia Woolf, Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, Alison Bechdel and Sarah Waters. Written by a host of leading critics and covering subjects as diverse as lesbian desire in the long eighteenth century and same-sex love in a postcolonial context, this Companion delivers insight into the variety of traditions that have shaped the present landscape of lesbian literature. The Cambridge Companion To Lesbian Literature Examines Literary Representations Of Lesbian Sexuality, Identities, And Communities, From The Medieval Period To The Present. In Addition To Providing A Helpful Orientation To Key Literary-historical Periods, Critical Concepts, Theoretical Debates And Literary Genres, This Companion Considers The Work Of Such Well-known Authors As Willa Cather, Adrienne Rich, Jeanette Winterson, And Rita Mae Brown. Written By A Host Of Leading Critics And Covering Subjects As Diverse As Lesbian Desire In The Long Eighteenth Century And Same-sex Love In A Postcolonial Context, This Companion Delivers Insight Into The Variety Of Traditions That Have Shaped The Present Landscape Of Lesbian Literature. Lesbian Literature? : An Introduction / Jodie Medd -- In Theory/in Debate : Connections, Comparisons, And Contestations. The Queer Time Of Lesbian Literature : History And Temporality / Carla Freccero ; Debating Definitions : The Lesbian In Feminist Studies And Queer Studies / Annamarie Jagose ; Experience, Difference, And Power / Sandra K. Soto ; Global Desires, Postcolonial Critique : Queer Women In Nation, Migration, And Diaspora / Shamira A. Meghani -- In The Past : Reading The Literary Archive. Situating Female Same-sex Love In The Middle Ages / Karma Lochrie ; Bedfellowes In Royaltie : Early/modern Sapphic Representations / Susan S. Lanser ; Writing Lesbian Desire In The Long Eighteenth Century / Caroline Gonda ; Lesbian Postmortem At The Fin De Siècle / Kate Thomas -- On The Page : Modern Genres. Modern Times, Modernist Writing, Modern Sexualities / Madelyn Detloff ; Popular Genres And Lesbian (sub)cultures : From Pulp To Crime, And Beyond / Kaye Mitchell ; Lesbian Autobiography And Memoir / Monica B. Pearl ; Lesbianism-poetry//poetry-lesbianism / Amy Sara Carroll ; Contemporary Lesbian Fiction : Into The Twenty-first Century / Emma Parker ; Comics, Graphic Narratives, And Lesbian Lives / Heike Bauer. Edited By Jodie Medd, Carleton University. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 237-246) And Index. Front Cover 1 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Table of Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Notes on Contributors 12 Acknowledgments 16 Chronology 18 Lesbian Literature?: An Introduction • Jodie Medd 34 PART I: In Theory/In Debate: Connections, Comparisons, and Contestations 50 1 The Queer Time of Lesbian Literature: History and Temporality • Carla Freccero 52 2 Debating Definitions: The Lesbian in Feminist Studies and Queer Studies • Annamarie Jagose 65 3 Experience, Difference, and Power • Sandra K. Soto 78 4 Global Desires, Postcolonial Critique: Queer Women in Nation, Migration, and Diaspora • Shamira A. Meghani 93 PART II: In the Past: Reading the Literary Archive 110 5 Situating Female Same-Sex Love in the Middle Ages • Karma Lochrie 112 6 “Bedfellowes in Royaltie”: Early/Modern Sapphic Representations • Susan S. Lanser 126 7 Writing Lesbian Desire in the Long Eighteenth Century • Caroline Gonda 140 8 Lesbian Postmortem at the Fin de Siècle • Kate Thomas 155 PART III: On the Page: Modern Genres 170 9 Modern Times, Modernist Writing, Modern Sexualities • Madelyn Detloff 172 10 Popular Genres and Lesbian (Sub)Cultures: From Pulp to Crime, and Beyond • Kaye Mitchell 187 11 Lesbian Autobiography and Memoir • Monica B. Pearl 202 12 Lesbianism-Poetry//Poetry-Lesbianism • Amy Sara Carroll 221 13 Contemporary Lesbian Fiction: Into the Twenty-First Century • Emma Parker 237 14 Comics, Graphic Narratives, and Lesbian Lives • Heike Bauer 252 Guide to Further Reading 270 Index 280