'"Understatements have certainly become Swift’s speciality,
resounding throughout his fictions of ethical consequence illuminated
by Stef Craps in this valuable new study. Craps’s approach
is far from pedestrian. Within its single-author format, what makes
this book distinctive is that it proceeds chronologically while
working hard to focus its thematic coverage, distinguishing itself
from a standard text-by-text exposition." David James,
writing in Textual Practice
“This excellent book is a detailed, carefully balanced and
well-informed study of this major contemporary writer. Most impressively,
it has a strong grasp of both the complex currents of Swift’s
fiction and of current debates in literary studies and theory over
issues of trauma and ethics. Indeed, Stef Craps’ luminous
and detailed study, while more than this, could be seen as a case
study for the effectiveness of these ideas for understanding a major
contemporary writer. Certainly, it will shape how Swift’s
writing is understood.” Robert Eaglestone, Royal Holloway,
University of London; editor of Routledge Critical Thinkers
“This book not only offers brilliant analyses of Swift's novels,
it also makes a significant impact on trauma studies. Craps argues
that traumatic histories are the central themes in Swift’s
literary oeuvre. But more importantly, he demonstrates that Swift’s
own medium – storytelling – is crucial in working through
trauma.” Ernst van Alphen, University of Leiden / University
of California, Berkeley; author of Caught by History: Holocaust
Effects in Contemporary Art, Literature, and Theory
"[This book] deserves to be widely known and discussed among those
interested in Swift's novels. . . . The virtues of Craps's study
are considerable. These include close and subtle argument, a consistent
vision of what he wants to say, and a clarity of exposition. In
addition, Craps puts Swift's work in an interesting and complex
European context. . . . In short, Trauma and Ethics in the Novels
of Graham Swift is an excellent study that will play an important
role in Swift studies for a long time.” David Malcolm,
author of Understanding Graham Swift, writing in The
European English Messenger
“Working across the fields of ethical criticism and trauma
theory, this volume offers a detailed and innovative study of the
fiction of Graham Swift, providing perceptive readings of all his
major novels. . . . overall, this is a clearly argued, intelligent
and engaging study, which makes valuable contributions both to the
field of trauma studies and to Swift criticism.” Anne
Whitehead, author of Trauma Fiction, writing in English
Studies
