The Anatomy of Memory

As we appproach the end of the millennium, it often seems that we are losing a spiritual awareness of who and what we are, either as individuals or societies. In such circumstances, argues James McConkey, memory becomes increasingly important as the source of whatever unitary aspirations we have. Memory is responsible for our identity, it is the faculty whereby we perceive connections between past and present, thus enabling us to make sense of our surroundings, and it underlies our creative achievements. This book explores all dimensions of the role of memory in human life and experience. Tracing this theme from St Augustine to the present, through essays and excerpts from the literature of relevant fields, the anthology includes sections on The Nature of Memory , The Memory of Nature , Memory and Creativity , Memory, Culture and Identity , Perspectives of Memory and Beyond Memory . Pieces by Henry Thoreau, Carl Jung, William Wordsworth, Primo Levi, Anton Chekhov, Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison, enlighten the reader both to the nature of memory and the values it can provide us with.