Intimacy explored in new book
The subject of intimacy is explored in a new book – Scenes of Intimacy - edited by º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ academic, Jennifer Cooke.
The book puts contemporary theory on intimacy together with contemporary literature which features intimacy or is written intimately and considers differing dimensions of intimacy.
It features a selection of 11 essays considering intimacy in various contexts including theories of shame and parental intimacy as well as love and sexual intimacy. The final essay is a powerful examination of death and mourning.
The book is also concerned with how texts – from novels through to poetry, autobiographies and journals - do not just represent intimacy, but can also be intimate, either in the way they address a reader or in their style.
Jennifer, a lecturer in English in the Department of English and Drama at the University, had the idea for the book following a major conference on the Writings of Intimacy in the 20th and 21st Centuries held at the University in 2010.
Jennifer comments: “I met all the contributors to the book at the conference and I am grateful to them for their contributions. I am also grateful to the University, who gave me the support to organise the conference and the space to explore the topic of intimacy further through this book.”
Scenes of Intimacy: Reading, Writing and Theorizing Contemporary Literature is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available in hardback or a version for Kindle. It is available through most bookstores and online.