This fully updated second edition traces the ways in which centuries of human beings have used narrative to make sense of time, space and identity. Particular attention is given to:early narrative, from Hellenic and Hebraicthe rise of the novelrealist representationimperialism and narrativemodernism and cinemapostmodern narrativenarrative and new technologies.An entirely new chapter covers the recent developments in ‘post-classical’ narratology, cognitive science, social science, plus après postmodernism, ontogenesis of narrative and narrative as a human phenomenon. With a strong emphasis on clarity and a range of examples from oral cultures to cyberspace, this is the ideal guide to an essential critical topic.