Routledge - English Modernism, National Identity and Germans

Explore the complex relationship between British literature and German identity in this academic study by Petra Rau. Published by Routledge, this work provides the first systematic look at how representations of Germanness within modernist British literature from 1890 to 1950 helped shape English identity. The book tracks changing attitudes across several decades. It follows the transition from the suspicious competitiveness seen in the late Victorian era to the intense hostility of the First World War. It also examines the inconsistent perceptions found during the 1930s and 1940s. Rather than viewing these changes as simple reactions to politics, Rau argues they stem from an anxious negotiation of modernity. The text shows how specific aspects of Englishness were projected onto German representations. This makes it an essential resource for students and scholars interested in European history, literary studies, and the evolution of national identity.