'Tactile Poetics takes excellent care of the intellectual and imaginative possibilities of its subject. Jackson's lucid, subtle engagement with touch and associated topics (skin, embodiment, affect, address, reading, relationships in general, and more) combines a poet's sensitivity, scholar's rigour and thinker's curiosity. Her book belongs alongside classic studies by Anzieu, Connor and Nancy.' Sarah Wood, University of Kent and Guild of Psychotherapists 'An original and compelling study. It is also, in its singularly gentle manner, a work of pressing importance. Interweaving lucid and thought-provoking expositions of Anzieu, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida, Nancy and others, with deft and inventive readings of a range of recent fictional and poetic writing, Jackson's book shows how the subject of touch is at the heart of contemporary writing and theory.' Nicholas Royle, University of Sussex 'Tactile Poetics: Touch and Contemporary Writing is an original and compelling study. It is also, in its singularly gentle manner, a work of pressing importance. Interweaving lucid and thought-provoking expositions of Anzieu, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida, Nancy and others, with deft and inventive readings of a range of recent fictional and poetic writing (Siri Hustvedt, Michael Ondaatje, Hélène Cixous, Anne Carson and John Berger), Jackson's book shows how the subject of touch is at the heart of contemporary writing and theory.' Nicholas Royle, University of Sussex A new critical perspective on the relationship between text and tact in twentieth- and twenty-first-century literature and theory The intimate links between the page and the skin have been explored by writers for centuries. Yet despite the current interest in the surface of the body, the relationship between touching and writing remains neglected. Drawing on new debates in deconstruction and psychoanalysis, this book provides an original and timely intervention in the field. Exploring insights from Jacques Derrida and Hélène Cixous, and through close readings of work by writers such as Anne Carson, Siri Hustvedt and Michael Ondaatje, Tactile Poetics investigates the law of tact that always interrupts contact, and examines the different ways that literary texts work to 'touch' their readers. Key Features - Conceptualises the relationship between touching and writing through a theory of 'tactile poetics' - Offers in-depth analysis of a range of literary genres including short fiction, poetry, autobiography, correspondence and the novel - Examines writings on touch by Anzieu, Cixous, Derrida, Freud and Nancy - Explores the intersections between creative and critical thinking and writing Sarah Jackson is Senior Lecturer in English and Programme Leader MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University. Cover image: If walls could talk..., found wallpaper in empty flat Liverpool, 2002, by Catherine Bertola. Courtesy the artist, Workplace Gallery and Galerie M+R Fricke. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com