Autobiography, Ecology, and the Well-Placed Self

Autobiography, Ecology, and the Well-Placed Self expands the field of autobiography studies by describing an emergent genre, natural biography, that embeds the human subject in a more-than-human world. Through an ecocritical analysis of three contemporary U.S. authors William Kittredge, Terry Tempest Williams, and Mary Clearman Blew Nathan Straight illustrates how ecologically situated life writing bridges the human/nature divide and responds to the pressing environmental and communal demands of our times. In his exploration of the well-placed self he challenges traditional concepts of the autobiographical subject and considers new models of selfhood in relation to regional and national identities. His illuminating discussions of specific texts engage with ecofeminist and bioregional theory and will appeal to readers in environmental studies, literary criticism, and American regionalism. Autobiography, Ecology, and the Well-Placed Self presents an important new perspective on place-based identity and literature, and the inclusion of a «Selected Readings» appendix makes it a valuable resource for scholars and students alike.

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Nathan Straight is Associate Professor of English at Utah State University in Brigham City, Utah. He received his PhD in British and American literature from the University of Oregon. Dr. Straight s research includes U.S. regional literature, autobiography studies, ecocriticism, and New West cultural studies.

Zusammenfassung
Autobiography, Ecology, and the Well-Placed Self