The Cambridge Companion to War Writing

This Companion covers British and American war writing from Beowulf to Don DeLillo.

This Companion focuses on British and American war writing, across centuries, forms and themes, to allow both local and comparative approaches. The chronology synthesises the key texts from each historical and contemporary war. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field and includes suggestions for further reading.War writing is an ancient genre that continues to be of vital importance. Times of crisis push literature to its limits, requiring writers to exploit their expressive resources to the maximum in response to extreme events. This Companion focuses on British and American war writing, from Beowulf and Shakespeare to bloggers on the 'War on Terror'. Thirteen period-based chapters are complemented by five thematic chapters and two chapters charting influences. This uniquely wide range facilitates both local and comparative study. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field and includes suggestions for further reading. A chronology illustrates how key texts relate to major conflicts. The Companion also explores the latest theoretical thinking on war representation to give access to this developing area and to suggest new directions for research. In addition to students of literature, the volume will interest those working in war studies, history, and cultural studies.