Several generations after the introduction of compulsory schooling, millions of men were called to arms in the long, deadly struggle, which John Don Passos once called Europe s suicide. And thousands of those at the front as well as at home felt the desire, or indeed the need, to write down their experiences and views. All of these works were necessarily political, conscious or unwitting contributions to the bitter debates unleashed in all countries. Concentrating on the United Kingdom, France and Germany, the seminar will briefly look at works, mainly poetry, written during the war and then concentrate on works, mainly novels, appearing later. The comparative approach will help to see things in perspective, as will consideration of the political, economic, and social background. The study of visual material, mainly films, will complement the study of literary works. A reader (with English translations where necessary) will be made available.
Participants might by way of preparation like to look at some studies, e.g. Paul Fussell, The Great War and Modern Memory (1975), Frank Field, British and French Writers of the First World War (1991), Stephan Burgdorff/Klaus Wiegrefe (eds), Der Erste Weltkrieg (2004), Fred Bridgham (ed.) The First World War as a Clash of Cultures (2006), Bruno Cabanes/Anne Duménil (eds), Der Erste Weltkrieg (2007 in French, transl. 2013).
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Holger KLEIN
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em. Professor of English Literature, Paris Lodron University Salzburg | |
Chair | |
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Claudia STERNBERG
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Senior Lecturer, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds | |
Chair | |
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em. Professor of English Literature, Paris Lodron University Salzburg
| 1966-1970 | Assistent, English Seminar, University of Cologne |
| 1970-1990 | Lecturer, S.L., Reader, EUR, University of East Anglia, Norwich |
| 1990-1991 | Professor, Départment d'Anglais, University of Poitiers |
| 1991-2004 | Professor, English Department, University of Salzburg |
| | Since 2004 Emeritus |
Senior Lecturer, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
| 1991-1994 | Lecturer, School of English, University of Cologne |
| 1994-1997 | Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, Department of British and American Studies, University of Technology Chemnitz |
| 1999-2002 | Postdoctoral Researcher, School of English, University of Tübingen |
| 2002-2004 | Postdoctoral Researcher, Sonderforschungsbereich 437: Kriegserfahrungen, University of Tübingen |
| | Since 2004 Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds |
