The phenomenon of the millennial novel in 21st century British literature

Abstract

The article examines the phenomenon of the millennial novel in contemporary British literature. This phenomenon reflects the unique values, worldview, and experiences of the millennial generation, born approximately between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s. The analysis focuses on novels by British women writers O. Sudjic’s “Sympathy” (2017) and K. Carty-Williams’ “Queenie” (2019), which reveal various aspects of millennials’ lives and worldviews, their personal and social dilemmas, as well as their interaction with the cultural and economic realities of modern Britain. The millennial authors in these texts explore issues of social justice and engagement with cultural heritage in the digital age. They reflect the feelings of uncertainty and instability characteristic of contemporary society and emphasize the importance of emotional and psychological well-being. The use of digital communication language in the analyzed works highlights changes in communication methods and identity formation in the internet and social media era. The texts demonstrate the diversity of cultural and social issues in 21st-century Britain, including questions of racial and cultural identity, and form a new voice in contemporary British prose.