The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh (Hardcover)

Description

“The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable” is a book written by Amitav Ghosh, an acclaimed Indian author known for his works of fiction and non-fiction. Published in 2016, the book explores the complex relationship between literature, culture, and the urgent global issue of climate change.

In “The Great Derangement,” Ghosh argues that the literary and cultural world has largely failed to address or grapple with the magnitude and implications of climate change. He examines why literature and mainstream narratives have largely been silent or inadequate in portraying the environmental crisis and its impact on human societies.

Ghosh explores various factors contributing to this “derangement,” including the dominance of certain narrative structures, the limitations of modern realism, and the historical separation between nature and culture in Western thinking. He contends that the enormity and scope of climate change challenge conventional modes of storytelling and require new ways of imagining and narrating the human relationship with the natural world.

The book combines personal reflections, literary analysis, and socio-political critique. Ghosh draws on examples from literature, history, and his own experiences to illustrate the ways in which climate change intersects with issues of power, politics, and cultural representation. He calls for a more imaginative, inclusive, and urgent engagement with climate change, highlighting the need for collaboration across disciplines and cultures.

“The Great Derangement” offers a thought-provoking examination of the cultural and literary response to climate change and raises important questions about our collective ability to confront and address this global crisis. It invites readers to consider the implications of climate change on literature, culture, and our collective imagination, and the urgent need for a more comprehensive and transformative response to this existential challenge.