The book explores a newly compiled corpus of American Gulf War captivity narratives, their claim to truth and their construction of identity and ideology, as well as concepts of heroism and anti-heroism. Moreover, it probes the texts’ complex authorship, uncovers their role in promoting cultural stereotypes and in propagating violence. Hence, this study is deeply involved with uncovering narrative strategies of othering and with the construction of orientalist alterities. The findings are then connected to broader social debates in the USA. Unpacking themes of alterity, heroism, and violence, the research underscores the Gulf War captivity narratives’ role in justifying aggression and in shaping U.S. American national identity, underscoring the need for continued scrutiny.

The book explores a newly compiled corpus of American Gulf War captivity narratives, their claim to truth and their construction of identity and ideology, as well as concepts of heroism and anti-heroism. Moreover, it probes the texts’ complex authorship, uncovers their role in promoting cultural stereotypes and in propagating violence. Hence, this study is deeply involved with uncovering narrative strategies of othering and with the construction of orientalist alterities. The findings are then connected to broader social debates in the USA. Unpacking themes of alterity, heroism, and violence, the research underscores the Gulf War captivity narratives’ role in justifying aggression and in shaping U.S. American national identity, underscoring the need for continued scrutiny.