Susan Farrell

Susan Farrell is a Professor at the College of Charleston, where she has taught since 1993. Her work focuses on contemporary American fiction, American war literature, and gender studies, with courses including Modern American War Fiction and Contemporary American Fiction.

• Ph.D., English, University of Texas at Austin
• M.A., English, University of Texas at Austin
• B.A., English, Austin College

Farrell’s research explores how war narratives challenge traditional gender roles and the limits of language in representing trauma. Her recent publications include analyses of Shirley Jackson’s gender symbolism and Kurt Vonnegut’s historical critiques, alongside contributions to the Handbook of the American Short Story.

Key trends in her work include the intersection of war fiction and gender theory, as well as the evolution of postmodernist themes from Hemingway to 9/11 literature.

She is a founding member of the Kurt Vonnegut Society and has authored books on Vonnegut and Tim O’Brien, emphasizing empathy and emotional authenticity in war storytelling.