Literature: Strange Worlds in Twentieth Century Fiction

These texts will afford us glimpses into the minds of writers

spread across Europe in the twentieth century, which has

seen political and social upheaval and prompted analysis and

at times elaborate and fantastical reinventions of known or

supposedly known worlds.

We will experience post-war Rome with Passolini and explore

his relationship with his sexuality and his class, while in the

work of Lernet-Holenia, we will discover the passage of the

world of war into another stranger realm.

When we encounter Alba de Cespedes, we will meet with a

woman, who repressed by Italian Fascism sought to create

her own credo by which to live. It is an important document

of Italian feminism and is now being rediscovered.

Our final two texts are those of British writers, both of whom

are experimental but fascinating in their style and narrative

concerns.

Discussion will focus on the author’s lives, contexts and their

negotiations with their contemporary worlds, which will

involve their involvement with feminism, modernism and

postmodernism. Each text will reveal an exciting and

innovative voice, as each author rightly belongs to the

emerging canon of twentieth century literature.