A Companion to Literature, Film, and Adaptation

This companion to the symbiosis between literature and film is a comprehensive collection of original essays that explore the aesthetics and mechanics of movie adaptation from the days of silent cinema to contemporary franchise phenomena. Featuring a range of theoretical approaches and chapters on the historical, ideological, and economic aspects of adaptation, the volume reflects today’s acceptance of intertextuality as a vital and progressive cultural force. Contributors explore a range of genres, from silent–screen adaptations to pulp fiction, X–Men comic books, and key literary works, including detailed consideration of Ian McEwan’s Atonement and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness .

Deborah Cartmell is Professor of English and Director of the Centre for Adaptations at De Montfort University, UK. A former chair and founding member of the Association of Adaptation Studies, she is co–editor of two international journals – Shakespeare and Adaptation . Her recent publications include Screen Adaptation: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (2010) and, with Imelda Whelehan, Screen Adaptation: Impure Cinema (2010).