Fragments of Union: Making Connections in Scottish and American Writing

Fragments of Union, a new approach to comparative literary studies, examines forms of connections between nations, literatures, individuals, and words. It asks how, and why, connections get severed, and about the nature of the pieces that remain. Interdisciplinary readings of writings by Scots and Americans re-draw the literary map of both countries during the Enlightenment and Romantic periods. Political, philosophical, cultural, and grammatical dimensions give its analysis sharp relevance to the new conditions presented by devolved government in Britain.