England? Whose England? (Re)constructing English identities in Julian Barnes and W. G. Sebald

Christine Berberich

doi:10.1080/14608940801997242

England? Whose England? (Re)constructing English identities in Julian Barnes and W. G. Sebald

Christine Berberich

Centre for Studies in Literature

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This article is an interdisciplinary look at notions of identity construction. Focusing on 'Englishness', it examines theories of identity formation, memory creation and nation-building alongside travel writing and notions of the picturesque. The focus of the debate throughout is on two novels of the 1990s: Julian Barnes' dystopian England, England of 1998 and W. G. Sebald's The Rings of Saturn of 1995 (English translation, 1998). Both novels play with traditional ideas of national identities and stereotypes by presenting their readers with the literal 'construction' of alternative versions of England and the English.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	167-184
Number of pages	18
Journal	National Identities
Volume	10
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14608940801997242
Publication status	Published - 2008

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10.1080/14608940801997242

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England? Whose England? (Re)constructing English identities in Julian Barnes and W. G. Sebald

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