Europe in Britain: the marginalised voices of EU migrants in contemporary British Brexlit

This chapter considers the presentation of Europeans in contemporary British Brexit. It discusses the presentation of Europeans in the context of Brexit in so-called Brexlit novels. Many Brexit novels pick up on what is, at best ‘marginalising’, and at worst ‘Othering’ or scapegoating of EU and other migrants. Most of the novels are also predominantly inward looking, concerned mainly with the fallout of Brexit within Britain and for British characters. The chapter also discusses the seemingly logical progression of the preoccupation with retreating within borders by assessing John Lanchester’s dystopian novel The Wall. Lyndsey Stonebridge’s comment suggests that literature needs to take on the role not only of presenting contemporary realities but also challenging them by imagining potential alternatives. The position of British ex-pats in Europe post-Brexit appears to be largely undeveloped in contemporary British literature and really needs some critical engagement.