The 1940s: A Decade of Modern British Fiction

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Explore the profound impact of World War II and its aftermath on British literature. This hardcover book delves into how the turbulent social, cultural, and political events of the 1940s reshaped modern British fiction. Discover a critical re-evaluation of this fascinating decade, moving beyond its typical portrayal as a mere dividing line between literary periods. The book analyzes the diversity of the era, from novels of the Blitz and the Navy to the emergence of significant new voices. It features substantial chapters on influential authors like Elizabeth Bowen, Graham Greene, and George Orwell, while also covering writers such as Jocelyn Brooke, Monica Dickens, James Hadley Chase, Patrick Hamilton, Gerald Kersh, Daphne Du Maurier, Mary Renault, and Denton Welch. This volume highlights the contributions of women, Commonwealth, exiled, genre, avant-garde, and queer writers, offering a comprehensive look at a pivotal decade in literary history. Product Summary: 'The 1940s: A Decade of Modern British Fiction' by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC is a 368-page hardcover book written in English. It offers a detailed analysis of British literature during the 1940s, examining its evolution in response to major historical events. Key authors and literary movements of the decade are explored in this first edition.