Memory

The concept of ‘memory’ has given rise to some of the most exciting new directions in contemporary theory. In this much-needed guide to a burgeoning field of a study, Anne Whitehead: presents a history of the concept of ‘memory’ and its uses, encompassing both memory as activity and the nature of memory examines debates around the term in their historical and cultural contexts introduces the reader to key thinkers in the field, from ancient Greece to the present day traces the links between theorisations and literary representations of memory. Offering a clear and succinct guide to one of the most important terms in contemporary theory, this volume is essential reading for anyone entering the field of Memory Studies, or seeking to understand current developments in Cultural and Literary Studies.

Introduction 1. Memory and Inscription 2. Memory and the self 3. Involuntary memories 4. Collective memory Conclusion: The Art of Forgetting? Bibliography

Anne Whitehead is Senior Lecturer in the School of English at Newcastle University. She is the author of Trauma Fiction and has edited Theories of Memory: A Reader and W. G. Sebald: A Critical Companion.