Haunted by the Future

Contemporary Northern Irish writers explore the legacy of the Troubles, examining their impact on current political, cultural, and everyday life in the province. Recent works address themes of communal and individual memory, with depictions of the conflict often reflecting the ongoing divisions within local communities. Jan Carson’s novel The Raptures (2022), centred on a community where some children are affected by a mysterious illness, exemplifies this trend. The article focuses on the novel’s portrayal of relationships between children, parents, and the wider community. It examines how Carson’s work comments on both the fictional society and contemporary Northern Irish culture. It explores the influence of previous generations on present and future ones, drawing on Jan Assmann’s distinction between communicative and collective memory. Additionally, the article engages with the concept of hauntology in literature, as discussed by Katy Shaw, to analyse the novel’s spectral themes

Ethnography · Everyday life · Irish · Irish and British Studies · Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration · Military, Security, and Education Studies