About the author
Sonja Schillings
Sonja Schillings is a scholar whose research connects American studies, legal history, literary criticism, and cultural analysis.
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A Dartmouth series title in American studies.
Dartmouth · 2016 catalog
Enemies of All Humankind
Fictions of Legitimate Violence
Sonja Schillings examines how the legal fiction of the “enemy of humankind” has shaped narratives of criminality, civilization, and state-sanctioned violence.
Book overview
A study of legal fictions and political power.
This work traces a recurring interpretive pattern across legal, literary, and cultural histories, with particular attention to the United States.
Hostis humani generis, or “enemy of humankind,” is a legal category historically used to place certain people beyond the protection of civilized society. Schillings argues that the category does more than describe hostility: it provides a narrative framework for presenting coercive action as legitimate state intervention.
The study follows the concept through Anglo-American intellectual history and considers its relationship to imperial expansion, resistance to structural oppression, institutional change, and the language of the war on terror.
Its analysis connects legal thought with literary and cultural interpretation, offering a historically grounded account of how ideas about civilization and violence are made persuasive.
Catalog record
Publication details at a glance.
The resource preserves the bibliographic context needed to identify the work, its editions, and its place within the wider catalog.
- Imprint Dartmouth
- Publication year 2016
- Subjects American literary criticism, historical events, political philosophy
- Edition note The hardcover is un-jacketed; the cover image represents the paperback edition.
Available editions
- Paperback
- 978-1-5126-0016-2
- Hardcover
- 978-1-5126-0015-5
- Ebook
- 978-1-5126-0017-9
- Extent
- 302 pages · 6 1/8 × 9 1/4 inches
Questions about this record
What is the central concept of the book?
The book studies hostis humani generis, a legal designation meaning “enemy of humankind,” and the narratives that support its use.
Which fields does the book address?
The record places it across American literary criticism, historical events, and political philosophy.
Where can I find the contents?
The complete table of contents is available through the linked catalog record.
Which series includes the book?
It appears in Re-Mapping the Transnational: A Dartmouth Series in American Studies.
How can I identify the editions?
Use the ISBN details above to distinguish the paperback, hardcover, and ebook editions.
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