People of all times and in all cultures have produced and consumed fiction in a variety of
forms not only for entertainment but also to spread knowledge religious or political
beliefs. Furthermore fiction has taken part in reflecting and shaping the cultural identity of
communities as well as the identity of individuals. This volume aims to explore the concept and
the use of fiction from different epochs in different cultures and in different forms both
ancient and more recent. It covers a broad field of interests from ancient literature art
philosophy and theater to Bollywood productions television series and modern electronic media.
Twenty-three scholars from ten countries and from different areasand fields of interests in the
Humanities assembled in Stockholm on a conference in August 2012 to exchange views on Fiction
in Global Contexts. This volume presents the results of their discussions. It contains fresh
perspectives on issues and topics such as: the nature of fiction fiction and its relationship
to truth the demand for and the function and uses of fiction the development of fiction from
ancient to modern times different forms of fiction fiction in social contexts or in a gender
perspective
