This collection of essays explores the ways in which memories of social, political and military conflicts have been transmitted by twentieth- and twenty-first-century European historiography, culture and media, and the diverse representations, or constructions of conflict, that have emerged as a result. Encompassing world wars, national conflicts, civil protests and acts of terrorism from 1914 to 2009, the volume examines constructions of conflict in multiple national contexts, including East/West Germany, post-reunification Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Great Britain and Iran. Individual essays investigate the roles played by agents and mediators of memory, from protesters, soldiers, policemen and sports officials to historians, journalists, writers and bloggers. In the process, they explore the complex interaction between state-sanctioned memories, political memories and personal recollections. The nature and influence of different carriers of memory are also discussed, such as historical narratives, commemorative ceremonies, memorials, literature, films, the new media of the World Wide Web and mobile phones, and visual representations including graphic novels and photographs. Organised around three key themes - 'public and private discourses of memory', 'counter-memories' and 'commemorative practices' - the contributions to this volume engage in a vibrant and instructive dialogue about contemporary processes of representing and constructing conflict.

This book explores the representation of Wales and 'Welshness' in texts by French- (including Breton) and German-speaking travellers from 1780 to the present day. Since the emergence of the travel narrative as a popular source of information and entertainment in the mid-18th century, writing about Wales has often been embedded and hidden in accounts of travel to 'England'. This book locates and presents these largely forgotten texts and broadens perspectives to encompass European perceptions. Works uncovered for the first time include travelogues, private correspondences, travel diaries, articles and blogs which have Wales or Welsh culture as their focus. The 'travellers' analysed in this volume include those travelling for the purpose of leisure, scholarship or commerce as well as exiles and refugees. By focusing on Wales, a minoritized nation at the geographical periphery of Europe, the authors are able to problematize notions of hegemony and identity, relating to both the places encountered (the 'travellee' culture) and the places of origin (the travellers' cultures). This book thereby makes an original contribution to studies in travel writing and provides an important case study of a culture often minoritized in the field, but that nevertheless provides a telling illustration of the dynamics of intercultural relations and representation.