Criminal Moves: Modes of Mobility in Crime Fiction

Criminal Moves challenges preconceptions about crime fiction by proposing that it deserves critical analysis, that genre norms and conventions matter more than textual individuality, and that comparative perspectives are secondary to the study of the British-American canon. It suggests that crime fiction should be seen as constantly violating its own boundaries and proposes a mobile reading practice that realizes the genre's full textual complexity, overcomes restrictive notions of 'genre, 'formula or 'popular, and establishes transnational perspectives that challenge the centrality of the British-American tradition.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Criminal Moves: Modes of Mobility in Crime Fiction is a groundbreaking contribution to contemporary theoretical discussions surrounding crime fiction. It aims to challenge and overturn several preconceived notions about the genre. Firstly, it argues that crime fiction deserves critical analysis and should not be disregarded as a lesser form of literature. Secondly, it emphasizes that genre norms and conventions hold significant importance, alongside the individual uniqueness of textual expressions. Additionally, the book suggests that comparative perspectives should be given equal weight in studying the British-American canon, rather than being considered secondary.

Criminal Moves challenges the conventional boundary between literary and popular fiction and proposes that crime fiction constantly defies its own boundaries. The essays revolve around three central axes of mobility, seeking to explore how we can envision a mobile reading practice that fully appreciates the genre's textual complexity, without being constrained by the authoritative self-interpretations often provided by crime narratives. They also aim to challenge restrictive notions of genre, formula, or popularity and establish transnational perspectives that challenge the dominance of the British-American tradition while recognizing the global history of crime fiction as characterized by processes of appropriation and transculturation.

Criminal Moves offers a comprehensive reinterpretation of the genre's history, which has far-reaching implications for our understanding of individual crime fiction texts. By challenging the traditional narratives and exploring new avenues of analysis, the book encourages readers to approach crime fiction with a fresh perspective and a deeper appreciation of its complex textual layers. This study not only expands our knowledge of the genre but also has the potential to enhance our reading experiences and enrich our engagement with crime fiction literature.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802077063