Peculiar Sanity of War Hysteria in the Literature of World War I

During wartime, paranoia, gossip, and rumor become accepted forms of behavior and dominant literary tropes. The Peculiar Sanity of War examines war hysteria's impact on definitions of sanity and on standards of behavior during World War I.Drawing upon Joseph Conrad's comprehensive understanding of war's impact on soldiers and civilians alike, and extending Michel Foucault's construction of madness and reason, Kingsbury expands the definition of war neurosis to include peculiar sanity at home as well as on the front lines. Ultimately, Kingsbury's study establishes shell shock, among civilians and soldiers, as a logical and inevitable response to war's madness.Kingsbury, Celia M. is the author of 'Peculiar Sanity of War Hysteria in the Literature of World War I' with ISBN 9780896724822 and ISBN 0896724824.