Introduction

Abstract

A collection of papers from a conference where there is no binding theme is inevitably to some extent disparate and arbitrary. This is particularly the case when the potential geographical and historical scope is open-ended as it was in the case of the non-Russian or Soviet literature papers offered at Harrogate. In order to impose some coherence on the present volume the editor’s intention has been to focus on the twentieth century, particularly the period from the Second World War up to the changes of 1989, and within that time-scale to give as wide as possible representation to a broad range of countries and cultures. Although the picture is not of course comprehensive, there is sufficient common ground in the area’s shared post-war experience for it to be at least representative. It has also been decided to include some mention of earlier periods, notably eighteenth-century Poland and Ukraine. This decision was taken in order to highlight the extent to which the notions of ‘politics’ and ‘literature’ have been inextricably related throughout this part of Europe ever since its peoples began to have a sense of themselves as national groups.