Description: A Curious Peril examines the prose penned by modernist writer H.D. in the aftermath of World War II, a little-known body of work that has been neglected by scholars, and argues that the trauma H.D. experienced in London during the war profoundly changed her writing. Lara Vetter reveals a shift in these writings from classical "escapist" settings to politically aware explorations of gender, spirituality, nation, and imperialism.
Brief description: Lara Vetter, professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is the editor of H.D.'s By Avon River and the author of Modernist Writings and Religio-scientific Discourse: H.D., Loy, and Toomer.
Review Quotes: "Exquisitely researched."--Modern Language Review "An exemplary scholarly work: exceptionally well researched, consistently smart, accessible. . . . Essential."--Choice "Offers a fascinating and thorough analysis of the chosen texts, grounding them not only in the context of H.D.'s own experiences and recognizing the trauma of two World Wars but also in the context of post-war Europe."--Forum for Modern Language Studies "Thoroughly accounts for the modernist's overlooked late-career prose."--Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature