Mobility, Memory and the Lifecourse in Twentieth-Century Literature and Culture

This book explores the formative role of mobilities in the production of our close relationships, proposing that the tracksboth literal and figurative we lay down in the process play a crucial role in generating and sustaining intimacy. Working with diaries, journals and literary texts from the mid- to late-twentieth century, the book pursues this thesis through three phases of the lifecourse: courtship (broadly defined), the middle years of long-term relationships and bereavement. Building upon the author's recent research on automobility, the text's case studies reveal the crucial role played by many different types of transportincluding walkingin defining our most enduring relationships. Conceptually, the book draws upon the writings of the philosopher, Henri Bergson, the anthropologist, Tim Ingold and the geographer, David Seamon, engaging with topical debates in cultural and emotional geography (especially work on landscape, memory and mourning), mobilities studies and critical love studies.

Appeals to scholars in mobilities studies, geocriticism studies, and romance/critical love studies Foregrounds the importance of space, place, and mobility in understanding relationships Moves the study of mobility in the humanities beyond thematic readings

Autorentext

Lynne Pearce is Professor of Literary and Cultural Theory at Lancaster University, UK. She is also Director for the Humanities at Lancaster's Centre for Mobilities Research (CeMoRe).

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Theorising Mobility, Movement, Memoryand Love.- 3. Walking Out: The Mobilities of Courtship.- 4. Staying With/in: The Mobilities of Long-Term Relationships.- 5. Pilgrimage: The Mobilities of Mourning.- 6. Afterword: Twenty-First-Century Perspectives.