Ethics and Aesthetics in Ali Smith’s Fiction

This study offers a fresh perspective on Ali Smith’s work, analysing her fiction through a truly interdisciplinary lens. José I. Prieto-Arranz explores Smith’s engagement with contemporary issues such as digital violence, disinformation, pornography, nationalism, climate change, discrimination and social fracture. Simultaneously, the book examines Smith’s unique stylistic choices, including her use of magical realism, intertextuality and intermediality, to reveal the intricate connection between the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of her novels. Through close readings of Smith’s novels, from Like to Companion Piece, enriched with insights from her prolific short fiction, the author demonstrates how Smith constructs a ＂text continuum,＂ revealing recurrent themes and stylistic choices that underline her firm belief in the transformative power of fiction and, by extension, art. This book will appeal to scholars of contemporary literature, art theory, political science, sociology and cultural studies, and anyone interested in literature and social commentary.

José I. Prieto-Arranz is Associate Professor of English at the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain). He has conducted research at the intersection of applied linguistics, semiotics, sociology and cultural studies. His work has examined the construction and expression of national identity in cultural phenomena and products like language acquisition, translation, tourism promotion and advertising, popular music, television, film and, more recently, literature. Focusing on how literature addresses contemporary nationalism and social fragmentation, he has pioneered the study of neo-historical fiction, including authors like Hilary Mantel and CJ Sansom. His book Ethics and Aesthetics in Ali Smith’s Fiction provides the first holistic study of Smith’s oeuvre.