The 1990s proved to be a particularly rich and fascinating period for British fiction. This book provides a fresh perspective on the diverse writings that appeared during the decade, bringing together leading academics in the field in order to:
Trace the concerns that emerged as central to 1990s fiction, in sections on millennial anxieties, identity politics, the relationship between the contemporary and the historical, and representations of contemporary space
Offer distinctive new readings of the most important novelists of the period, including Martin Amis, Beryl Bainbridge, Pat Barker, Julian Barnes, A. S. Byatt, Hanif Kureishi, Ian McEwan, Iain Sinclair, Zadie Smith and Jeanette Winterson
Show how British fiction engages with major cultural debates of the 1990s, such as the concern with representing various identities and cultural groups, or theories of the end of history
Discuss 1990s fiction in relation to broader literary and critical theories, including postmodernism, post-feminism and postcolonialism
Together the essays highlight the ways in which the writing of the 1990s represents a development of the themes and styles of the post-war novel generally, yet displays a range of characteristics distinct to the decade. British Fiction of the 1990s is essential reading for those working in the field of recent fiction or studying any of the authors discussed.