The Cambridge Companion to Gay and Lesbian Writing - (Cambridge Companions to Literature) by Hugh Stevens (Paperback)

About the Book

An exciting introduction to the diversity of approaches to lesbian and gay literature.

Book Synopsis

In the last two decades, lesbian and gay studies have transformed literary studies and developed into a vital and influential area for students and scholars. This Companion introduces readers to the range of debates that inform studies of works by lesbian and gay writers and of literary representations of same-sex desire and queer identities. Each chapter introduces key concepts in the field in an accessible way and uses several important literary texts to illustrate how these concepts can illuminate our readings of them. Authors discussed range from Henry James, E. M. Forster and Gertrude Stein to Sarah Waters and Carol Ann Duffy. The contributors showcase the wide variety of approaches and theoretical frameworks that characterize this field, drawing on related themes of gender and sexuality. With a chronology and guide to further reading, this volume offers a stimulating introduction to the diversity of approaches to lesbian and gay literature.

Review Quotes

"Cambridge Companions are excellent resources in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of complex theoretical frameworks, and this book is no exception....The book's aim is to provide the reader with a multifaceted approach to a range of debates circulating in gay and lesbian literature. Editor Hugh Stevens manages to achieve this without over complication or confusion, via a selection of essays that suppoft each previous chapter' thereby developing coherency for its intended audience...Overall, this text Provides a thorough introduction to the literature of gay and lesbian authors, spanning centuries, lt is an excellent companion for gay and lesbian literature studies, although not for seeking detailed information relating to specific writers."
-Times Higher Education, 3 November 2011