A Literature of Historical Guilt?

This seminar seeks papers on an emerging form of narrative written in the aftermath of atrocity that is best described as literature of historical guilt. Texts in this tradition ask how to come to terms with historical atrocity committed by one’s ancestors. Focusing on fiction from the United States and Germany, we will explore how these literary texts confront historical responsibility, indictment, guilt, shame, evasion or repression, and ...