Literary trauma
studies is a rapidly developing field which examines how literature
deals with the personal and cultural aspects of trauma and engages with
such historical and current phenomena as the Holocaust and other
genocides, 9/11, climate catastrophe or the still unsettled legacy of
colonialism.

The Routledge Companion to Literature and Trauma is a
comprehensive guide to the history and theory of trauma studies,
including key concepts, consideration of critical perspectives and
discussion of future developments. It also explores different genres and
media, such as poetry, life-writing, graphic narratives, photography
and post-apocalyptic fiction, and analyses how literature engages with
particular traumatic situations and events, such as the Holocaust, the
Occupation of France, the Rwandan genocide, Hurricane Katrina and
transgenerational nuclear trauma.

Forty essays from top thinkers in the field demonstrate the range and
vitality of trauma studies as it has been used to further the
understanding of literature and other cultural forms across the world.