Climate and Literature

This volume explores the relationship between climate and literature, examining how literary and climatological time, literal and literary atmosphere, and Enlightenment understandings of climate have influenced textual representations. It also addresses recent literary framings of climate in the Anthropocene, including the rise of the climate change novel, the spectre of extinction, and the relationship between climate criticism and nuclear criticism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 346 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Leading scholars delve into the intricate relationship between climate and literature, exploring the historical backdrop and its profound impact on artistic expression. Through comprehensive essays, they analyze the contrasts between literary and climatological time, as well as the interplay between literal and literary atmospheres. The study encompasses a wide range of literary works, including seasons poetry, classical Greek literature, medieval Icelandic and Greenlandic sagas, and Shakespearean theatre. Furthermore, it delves into the influence of Enlightenment understandings of climate on literature, encompassing Romantic poetry, North American settler literature, novels of empire, Victorian and modernist fiction, science fiction, and Nordic noir or crime fiction. The volume also addresses recent literary framings of climate in the Anthropocene era, charting the rise of the climate change novel, the specter of extinction in the contemporary cultural imagination, and the interconnectedness between climate criticism and nuclear criticism. Together, the essays in this volume shed light on the discursive dimensions of climate, challenging the notion of its separation from literature and the realm of the imagination.

Climate, an ancient companion of human civilization, intertwines with language and literature, shaping our understanding and portrayal of weather patterns. This volume challenges the notion that climate should be confined to the realm of science and seeks to integrate it into the broader tapestry of human experience. Through comprehensive essays, scholars examine the contrasts between literary and climatological time, exploring how literature captures the essence of climate in its narratives and imagery. They also delve into the interplay between literal and literary atmospheres, examining how writers create vivid and evocative descriptions of weather that resonate with readers on a profound emotional level.

The study encompasses a diverse range of literary works, from ancient Greek epics to contemporary climate fiction. It explores how different genres and periods respond to climate change, from the Romantic poets' fascination with nature's beauty to the dystopian visions of science fiction. The volume also examines the influence of Enlightenment understandings of climate on literature, highlighting how writers of the past used their works to raise awareness about environmental issues and advocate for change.

In the Anthropocene era, climate has emerged as a central theme in literature, reflecting the urgent need for collective action and responsibility. The rise of the climate change novel, which explores the devastating consequences of human-induced climate change, has brought attention to the urgent need for global cooperation and sustainable practices. The specter of extinction in the contemporary cultural imagination has also inspired writers to explore the fragility of our planet and the interconnectedness of all life forms.

The volume concludes by exploring the relationship between climate criticism and nuclear criticism, highlighting how these two fields of study intersect in their pursuit of a more sustainable and just future. It argues that climate change and nuclear proliferation are interconnected issues that require a holistic and interdisciplinary approach. By examining the historical and literary dimensions of climate, this volume offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex and interconnected relationship between humans and the natural world.

Weight: 636g
Dimension: 161 x 234 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108422529