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This book examines and explains the obsession with history in the contemporary British novel. It frames these "historical" novels as expressions of narrative desire, highlighting the reciprocal relationship between a desire to disclose and to rid ourselves of anxieties elicited by the past. Scrutinizing representative novels from Byatt, McEwan and Rushdie, contemporary fiction is revealed as capable of advocating a viable ethical stance and as a form of authentic commentary. Our anxieties often exist in response to what might be perceived as the oppression or eradication of values, whether this is through the modern repudiation of Victorian principles (Byatt), the Western rethinking of Enlightenment narratives in light of the Holocaust (McEwan), or pluralism threatened by religious fundamentalism (Rushdie). Each of these novelists differentially employs postmodern artifice, sometimes as a way to reject the notion of historical construction, sometimes to advocate for it, but always to bring us closer to what the author believes are significant values and truths, rather than relativism. The representative qualities of these novels serve to highlight themes, concerns, and anxieties present in many of the works of each author and by extension those of their contemporaries.

Begeerte in de literatuur --- Compensaties voor historische onrechtvaardigheden --- Crimes contre l'histoire [Réparations des ] --- Desire in literature --- Désir dans la littérature --- Geschiedenis in de literatuur --- Histoire dans la littérature --- History in literature --- Redress for historical injustices --- Reparation for historical injustices --- Reparations for historical injustices --- Reparations for past injustices --- Restitution for historical injustices --- Réparation des crimes contre l'histoire --- Réparations des crimes de l'histoire --- Réparations des injustices de l'histoire --- Réparations des injustices du passé --- Réparations des préjudices de l'histoire --- Réparations pour des injustices historiques --- Schadeloosstellingen voor historische onrechtvaardigheden --- Desire in literature. --- English fiction --- History in literature. --- Literature and history --- Narration (Rhetoric) --- Reparations for historical injustices. --- History and criticism. --- History --- Byatt, A. S. --- McEwan, Ian. --- Rushdie, Salman. --- Knowledge --- History. --- 82:93 --- 820 "19" --- Literatuur en geschiedenis --- Engelse literatuur--20e eeuw. Periode 1900-1999 --- 820 "19" Engelse literatuur--20e eeuw. Periode 1900-1999 --- 82:93 Literatuur en geschiedenis --- Byatt, A. S., --- Reparations --- Indemnity --- Social justice --- History and criticism --- Byatt, Antonia Susan --- Rushdie, Salman --- McEwan, Ian --- 20th century --- Great Britain --- Rhetoric --- Discourse analysis, Narrative --- Narratees (Rhetoric) --- ROMAN ANGLAIS --- LITTERATURE ET HISTOIRE --- BYATT, A. S. (Antonia Susan), 1936 --- -NARRATION --- RUSHDIE (SALMAN), 1947 --- -McEWAN (IAN), 1948 --- -DESIR DANS LA LITTERATURE --- 20E SIECLE --- HISTOIRE ET CRITIQUE --- GRANDE-BRETAGNE --- SAVOIR ET ERUDITION