Thomsen develops the concept of constellations of books based on particular formal and thematic traits and shows how this works in relation to literature written by migrant writers and literature on genocides, wars and catastrophes. "Mapping World Literature" explores the study of literature and literary history in light of global changes, looking at what defines world literature in the 21st century. Surveying ideas of literature from Goethe to the present, Thomsen devises a compelling concept of literary constellations. He discusses a wide-range of critical positions, identifies the limits of comparative and post-colonial approaches and examines two specific cases: literature written by migrant writers and the literature of genocide, war and disaster. "Mapping World Literature" captures new ways of understanding the patterns and trends that emerge in literature, opening up and inspiring research to map patterns in the field.