Prison Writing and the Literary World: Imprisonment, Institutionality and Questions of Literary Practice

Prison Writing and the Literary World explores international prison writing and its connections to literary representation, censorship, and aesthetics, examining topics such as wartime internment, political imprisonment, resistance, and personal narratives. The book connects prison writing and writing about imprisonment across different regions and asks readers to consider the questions, examples, and challenges arising from this literature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 266 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Prison Writing and the Literary World delves into the global realm of prison writing, exploring the intricate connections between imprisonment and literary representation, formal aesthetics, and the broader themes of "value" and "values" in literature. It examines the challenges and complexities inherent in textual censorship and circulation within institutional settings, while also shedding light on the institutional networks and literary-critical methodologies that shape the study of prison writing. This comprehensive volume presents scholarly essays that examine diverse aspects of prison writing, including wartime internment, political imprisonment, resistance and independence movements, regimes of terror, and personal narratives of development and awakening. By transcending geographical boundaries and drawing upon expertise from various nations and regions, including the UK, the USA, continental Europe, Stalinist Russia, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, Prison Writing and the Literary World encourages readers to engage with the critical questions, examples, and challenges emerging from this rich literary genre. Additionally, it features critical reflection pieces from authors, editors, educators, and theatre practitioners who have firsthand experience of the fraught, testing, and potentially inspiring connections between prison and the literary world. This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the complex interplay between incarceration, literature, and society.

Prison Writing and the Literary World is a groundbreaking exploration of the intersection between imprisonment and literature, delving into the complex dynamics of literary representation, formal aesthetics, and the broader philosophical questions of "value" and "values" in the context ofarceration. It examines the challenges and complexities inherent in textual censorship and circulation within institutional settings, while also shedding light on the institutional networks and literary-critical methodologies that shape the study of prison writing. This comprehensive volume presents scholarly essays that examine diverse aspects of prison writing, including wartime internment, political imprisonment, resistance and independence movements, regimes of terror, and personal narratives of development and awakening. By transcending geographical boundaries and drawing upon expertise from various nations and regions, including the UK, the USA, continental Europe, Stalinist Russia, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, Prison Writing and the Literary World encourages readers to engage with the critical questions, examples, and challenges emerging from this rich literary genre. Additionally, it features critical reflection pieces from authors, editors, educators, and theatre practitioners who have firsthand experience of the fraught, testing, and potentially inspiring connections between prison and the literary world. This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the complex interplay between incarceration, literature, and society.

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367616328