<P>Trauma has become a catchword of our time and a central category in contemporary theory and criticism. In this illuminating and accessible volume, Lucy Bond and Stef Craps:</P><P></P><UL><P><LI>provide an account of the history of the concept of trauma from the late nineteenth century to the present day</LI><P></P><P><LI>examine debates around the term in their historical and cultural contexts</LI><P></P><P><LI>trace the origins and growth of literary trauma theory</LI><P></P><P><LI>introduce the reader to key thinkers in the field</LI><P></P><P><LI>explore important issues and tensions in the study of trauma as a cultural phenomenon</LI><P></P><P><LI>outline and assess recent critiques and revisions of cultural trauma research</LI><P></P></UL><P></P><I><P>Trauma</I> is an essential guide to a rich and vibrant area of literary and cultural inquiry.</P><P></P><B><P></B> </P><P></P>