Contemporary British Novel

Studies of the "contemporary" British novel often turn out not to be very contemporary at all. All too often the discussion such discussion is dominated by the literature of the immediate post-war years. Philip Tew, in contrast, provides a genuinely fresh treatment of the theme by focusing on the work of authors who have made their reputation within the last two decades. In the process he brings so-called minority writers out of theoretical ghettos and, paying their work full respect, integrates them into a synthesis of literary trends and historical context.

Discusses the work of, amongst others: Martin Amis, J. G. Ballard, A. S. Byatt, Jonathan Coe, Angela Carter, Jim Crace, John Fowles, Kazuo Ishiguro, James Kelman, A. L. Kennedy, Hanif Kureshi, Toby Litt, Ian McEwan, Caryl Phillips, Salman Rushdie, Iain Sinclair, Zadie Smith, Will Self and Jeanette Winterson.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Preface
1. Critiquing Contemporary Fiction
2. Contemporary Britishness: Who, What, Why and When?
3. The Fall and Rise of the Middle Classes
4. Urban Identities
5. The Past and the Present:
6. Hybridity
BibliographyIndex>