Modern Literature and the Death Penalty, 1890-1950

This book explores how literature reflected on the practice of capital punishment in the UK, Ireland, and the US between 1890 and 1950, examining how connections between 'high' and 'popular' culture are inextricable. It discusses conceptual understandings of the modern death penalty, the role of conflict in shaping its representation, and aims to improve our understanding of its centrality in twentieth-century literary movements and historical events.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating book delves into the profound cultural and ethical influence of literature in examining the practice of capital punishment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States between 1890 and 1950. It explores the intricate connections between 'high' and 'popular' culture, particularly in the context of the death penalty, through a comprehensive analysis of various forms of expression, including canonical literature, detective fiction, plays, polemics, criminological and psychoanalytic tracts, letters, and memoirs. The book addresses conceptual understandings of the modern death penalty, encompassing themes such as confession, the gothic, life-writing, and the human-animal binary. Furthermore, it delves into the role of conflict in shaping the representation of capital punishment, encompassing chapters on significant historical events such as the Easter Rising, World War I, colonial and quasi-colonial conflicts, and World War II. By undertaking a comprehensive approach, the book aims to enhance our comprehension of the centrality of the death penalty and its significant role in shaping major twentieth-century literary movements and historical events.

Weight: 389g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030527525
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021