Wessex : Landscapes, Histories and Identities

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Once an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Wessex became a cultural category in its own right in the nineteenth century dure to the writings of Thomas Hardy. Hardy created Wessex in order to exemplify social developments within the nation. However, in his work, Wessex also became a region with local characteristics. Due to the latter, Wessex soon provided a reference point for (regional) identities. The volume is dedicated to the historical Wessex as well as to the history of modern Wessex. In order to illustrate the multifaceted nature of this region, the volume contains articles from different disciplines in European Studies such as literary studies and history. In these articles, theories of collective identities play a central role. At the same time, Wessex is understood as a construction of place, which is marked by spcific spatial practices. As the volume is a result of a workshop held with students of the MA European Studies, it also comprises articles written by students.