The subject of intimacy is explored in a new book – Scenes of Intimacy - edited by Loughborough University academic, Jennifer Cooke.

The book puts contemporary theory on intimacy together with contemporary literature which features intimacy or is written intimately and considers differing dimensions of intimacy.   

It features a selection of 11 essays considering intimacy in various contexts including theories of shame and parental intimacy as well as love and sexual intimacy.  The final essay is a powerful examination of death and mourning. 

The book is also concerned with how texts – from novels through to poetry, autobiographies and journals - do not just represent intimacy, but can also be intimate, either in the way they address a reader or in their style.

Jennifer, a lecturer in English in the Department of English and Drama at the University, had the idea for the book following a major conference on the Writings of Intimacy in the 20th and 21st Centuries held at the University in 2010. 

Jennifer comments: “I met all the contributors to the book at the conference and I am grateful to them for their contributions.  I am also grateful to the University, who gave me the support to organise the conference and the space to explore the topic of intimacy further through this book.”

Scenes of Intimacy: Reading, Writing and Theorizing Contemporary Literature is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available in hardback or a version for Kindle.  It is available through most bookstores and online.