Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction The manufacture of identities Terminologisation Theoretical fiction Narrative, politics and history Culture and schizophrenia True lies: unreliable identities in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The dark clouds of enlightenment: socio-narratology and Heart of Darkness Postmodern narrative theory reading postmodern narrative: Coetzee's Elizabeth Costello and Slow Man

How have developments in literary and cultural theory transformed our understanding of narrative? What has happened to narrative in the wake of poststructuralism? What is the role and function of narrative in the contemporary world? In this revised, updated and expanded new edition of an established text, Mark Currie explores these central questions and guides students through the complex theories that have shaped the study of narrative in recent decades. Postmodern Narrative Theory, Second Edition: Establishes direct links between the workings of fictional narratives and those of the non-fictional world Charts the transition in narrative theory from its formalist beginnings, through deconstruction, towards its current concerns with the social, cultural and cognitive uses of narrative Explores the relationship between postmodern narrative and postmodern theory more closely Presents detailed illustrative readings of known literary texts such as Stevensons Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Conrads Heart of Darkness, and now features a new chapter on Coetzees Elizabeth Costello and Slow Man. Approachable and stimulating, this is an essential introduction for anyone studying postmodernism, the theory of narrative or contemporary fiction-- Provided by publisher.