This book examines writing that has been created in isolation and confinement, and it explores the stories, characters, and situations that have arisen from these states throughout history. It offers a deeper understanding of how others have found inspiration, purpose, and clarity in these difficult and challenging conditions.

By traversing the narratives of writers, wanderers, mariners, prisoners, recluses, and soldiers, this book offers writers and readers a chance to re-think the parameters of their own circumstances. Exploring a broad range of themes, from writing during a pandemic (COVID-19), travel writing, writing from incarceration, and writing within war and conflict zones, each chapter will look at historical contexts as well as contemporary examples within these themes to demonstrate the rich history and current relevance of writing during confinement and isolation. The book also contains tips and exercises to help develop writing skills during restrictive circumstances.

This is a valuable resource for scholars seeking to observe how writing has developed through various themes of isolation in the past, as well as students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of creative writing, communication studies, and journalism seeking to learn through lived experiences how to hone their writing during challenging times.

Ben Stubbs is a senior lecturer in journalism and creative writing at the University of South Australia. He received his PhD from the University of Canberra. Prior to academia, Ben was a feature writer for international publications including the New York Times and the Guardian. Ben has written three books: Ticket to Paradise (2012), After Dark (2016), and The Crow Eaters (2019). He has also written numerous journal articles and book chapters examining the plurality of travel writing.