Reading to Stay Alive: Tolstoy, Hopkins and the Dilemma of ExistenceThe book begins with rich descriptions of the experience of despair, drawn from real life case studies from the author’s clinical practice, and a review of current evidence of suicide prevalence, risk and protective factors. A review of theories about suicide highlights two contemporary explanatory models: Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) model, with focus on perceptions of defeat and entrapment; and Interpersonal Theory (IPT), with focus on thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. The book provides an overview of recent analyses of how literary and poetic texts confront the dilemma of existence in the face of grief and loss, and how literary readings can act as points of transformation. |
Other editions - View all
Tolstoy, Hopkins and the Dilemma of Existence: Reading to Stay Alive Christopher Dowrick No preview available - 2022 |
Reading to Stay Alive: Tolstoy, Hopkins and the Dilemma of Existence Christopher Dowrick No preview available - 2024 |
Common terms and phrases
Accessed Al Alvarez Alvarez Andrew Bennett Anna Karenina become believe Carrion Comfort Chapter Charlie Christopher Dowrick compassion Darren David Foster Wallace death Depression despair dilemma of existence distress dukkha emotional empathy engagement existential experience explore face Frances friends Gerard Manley Hopkins grief heart hope human humiliation ibid ideas inscape Jie Zhang Josie Billington Journal Joyce Kitty Leo Tolstoy Levin literary reading literature lives London Matt Haig means Mental Health mind Model of Suicidal moral novel offer ourselves Oxford University Press pain patients perhaps person Peter Porter philosophical poem poetic poetry point of transformation psychological realise reasons to stay reflecting relationship Richard Pevear Rory O'Connor Schopenhauer Seamus Heaney self-compassion self-harm social sonnets soul Spinoza spiritual stay alive Stevie Smith story strain Study suffering suicidal behaviour suicidal ideation suicidal thoughts Theory of Suicide things thwarted belongingness Tolstoy and Hopkins Tolstoy's trans Varenka Vronsky Vronsky's Wake and Feel writing