The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century English Literature - Edited Volume - Introductory and reference overview

Oct 28, 2026

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The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century English Literature presents a comprehensive reference synthesis of twentieth-century writing across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. It examines how works from former colonies shaped English literature during the period and how radio, cinema, and television reconfigured conventional genres. The narrative tracks both claims for innovation and modernisation and the deeper continuities influencing avant-garde approaches, supported by extensive bibliographies and a full index.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages855

Reading Time21 h 57 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

List of contributors

Acknowledgements

Introduction

part one: Writing Modernity

the cambridge history of TWENTIETH-CENTURY ENGLISH LITERATURE This new Cambridge History is the ﬁrst major history of twentiethcentury English literature to cover the full range of writing in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The volume also explores the impact of writing from the former colonies on English literature of the period and analyses the ways in which conventional literary genres were shaped and inﬂected by the new cultural technologies of radio, cinema and television. In providing an authoritative narrative of literary and cultural production across the century, this History acknowledges the claims for innovation and modernisation that characterise the beginning of the period. At the same time, it attends analytically to the more profound patterns of continuity and development which avant-garde tendencies characteristically underplay. Containing all the virtues ofa Cambridge History, this new volume is a major event for anyone concerned with twentieth-century literature, its cultural context and its relation to the contemporary. Laura Marcus is Professor of English at the University of Sussex, and co-director of its Centre for Modernist Studies. She has published widely on nineteenth-and twentieth-century literature and culture. Her publications include Auto/biographical Discourses: Criticism, Theory, Practice (1994 /8) and Virginia Woolf (1997 /2004), and, as editor, Sigmund Freud’s ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’: New Interdisciplinary Essays (1999) and Close Up 􀀁􀀂􀀃􀀄–􀀅􀀅 : Cinema and Modernism (1998) . Peter Nicholls is Professor of English and American Literature at the University of Sussex, and co-director of its Centre for Modernist Studies. He is the editor of Textual Practice. He is the author of Politics, Economics and Writing: A Study of Ezra Pound’s ‘Cantos’(1984), Modernisms: A Literary Guide (1995) and of many articles andessays on twentieth-century literature and theory. He has recently co-edited Ruskin and Modernism (2001) . Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008 Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008 the new cambridge history of ENGLISH LITERATURE The New Cambridge History of English Literature is a programme of reference works designed to offer a broad synthesis and contextual survey of the history of English literature through the major periods of its development. The organisation of each volume reﬂects the particular characteristics of the period covered, within a general commitment to providing an accessible narrative history through a linked sequence of essays by internationally renowned scholars. The History is designed to accommodate the range of insights and fresh perspectives brought by new approaches to the subject, without losing sight of the need for essential exposition and information. The volumes include valuable reference features, including extensive bibliographies and a full index. The Cambridge History of Medieval English Literature edited by david wallace The Cambridge History of Early Modern English Literature edited by david loewenstein and janel mueller The Cambridge History of English Literature 􀀁 􀀆􀀆􀀇–􀀁􀀄􀀈􀀇 edited by john richetti The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century English Literature edited by laura marcus and peter nicholls In preparation The Cambridge History of English Romantic Literature edited by james chandler Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008 Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008 THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORY OF TWENTIETH-CENTURY ENGLISH LITERATURE ∗ Edited by LAURA MARCUS and PETER NICHOLLS Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008 published by the press syndicate of the university of cambridge The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom cambridge university press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge cb2 2ru, uk 40 West 20th Street, New York, ny 10011-4211, usa 477 Williamstown R

FAQs

What geographic scope does this Cambridge History cover?

It covers the full range of writing in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

How does the book address influences on English literature in the twentieth century?

It explores the impact of writing from former colonies and analyzes how radio, cinema, and television shaped literary genres.

What kinds of reference features are included?

The volumes include extensive bibliographies and a full index.

Oct 28, 2026

Upload by Fahsai