Contents: Myth, history and mothers: an introduction to Roberts and her work ¿ Genealogies of women in Roberts¿s early work ¿ Religion and Roberts¿s work ¿ Time and herstory in Roberts¿s work ¿ Historiography and the rewriting of the past in later texts ¿ Postmodern playfulness in Roberts¿s latest work.

This book provides an accessible and yet thorough analysis of the work of Michèle Roberts, a prolific half-English and half-French writer who can claim both literary and popular appeal. Roberts¿s work is examined alongside contemporary feminist theory, particularly the work of Luce Irigaray and feminist philosophers of religion. The book traces the development of Roberts¿s work from its origins in the feminist movement of the seventies, through its engagement with the philosophy of religion and its interest in historiography, to the postmodern playfulness of her latest work. At the same time, the book does acknowledge enduring concerns in her oeuvre, particularly the fascination with the mother-daughter relationship and the desire to engage with and rewrite both history and myth. The book offers detailed readings of Roberts¿s novels together with a selection of her short stories and poetry.

The Author: Sarah Falcus has research interests in contemporary fiction, particularly women¿s writing and was awarded her Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, 2002. She has taught at a variety of UK universities and is now an Associate Lecturer at the Open University in the West Midlands.