Literary activists

"This book's proposal represents the most significant new directions in literary studies, where a return to the literary is being effected by reading texts in the contexts of the literary culture more broadly conceived. This culture includes such things as writers' career paths and networks, the changing material conditions of publishing and reviewing (nationally and internationally), the role of literature in education and, most urgently, the contested role of writers as public intellectuals engaging in political debate. Rooney's proposal shows a clear intention to focus on particular writers and texts and her broad and deep awareness of past and present cultural issues means that her approach is compatible with earlier studies' focus on the development of a national culture, and the university courses that use this focus in offering Australian Studies."--Provided by publisher.