Postcolonial Literature
Published on 5. September 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-7486-3939-7 (ISBN)
Description
Introduces postcolonial literary studies through close readings of a wide range of fiction and poetry
This guide places the literary works themselves at the centre of its discussions, examining how writers from Africa, Australasia, the Caribbean, Canada, Ireland, and South Asia have engaged with the challenges that beset postcolonial societies. Dave Gunning discusses many of the most-studied works of postcolonial literature, from Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart to Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, as well as works by more recent writers like Chris Abani, Tahmima Anam and Shani Mootoo. Each chapter explores a key theme through drawing together works from various times and places. The book concludes with an extensive guide to further reading and tips on how to write about postcolonial literature successfully.
Key Features
Close analysis of texts including, Sam Selvon's The Lonely Londoners, J.M Coetzee's Disgrace, Roddy Doyle's A Star Called Henry, Shani Mootoo's Cereus Blooms at Night, Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions, Zadie Smith's White Teeth, Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Tahmima Anam's A Golden Age, Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost, and Amitav Ghosh's In an Antique Land, as well as poetry by Derek Walcott, Eavan Boland, Agha Shahid Ali, Chris Abani and others.Discusses important new themes in postcolonial literature including global Islam, postcolonial sexualities and the representation of military conflict.Includes a Chronology, a Guide to Further Reading, and Tips on Writing about Postcolonial Literature.
This guide places the literary works themselves at the centre of its discussions, examining how writers from Africa, Australasia, the Caribbean, Canada, Ireland, and South Asia have engaged with the challenges that beset postcolonial societies. Dave Gunning discusses many of the most-studied works of postcolonial literature, from Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart to Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, as well as works by more recent writers like Chris Abani, Tahmima Anam and Shani Mootoo. Each chapter explores a key theme through drawing together works from various times and places. The book concludes with an extensive guide to further reading and tips on how to write about postcolonial literature successfully.
Key Features
Close analysis of texts including, Sam Selvon's The Lonely Londoners, J.M Coetzee's Disgrace, Roddy Doyle's A Star Called Henry, Shani Mootoo's Cereus Blooms at Night, Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions, Zadie Smith's White Teeth, Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Tahmima Anam's A Golden Age, Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost, and Amitav Ghosh's In an Antique Land, as well as poetry by Derek Walcott, Eavan Boland, Agha Shahid Ali, Chris Abani and others.Discusses important new themes in postcolonial literature including global Islam, postcolonial sexualities and the representation of military conflict.Includes a Chronology, a Guide to Further Reading, and Tips on Writing about Postcolonial Literature.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 136 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
309 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7486-3939-7 (9780748639397)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dave Gunning lectures in contemporary literature at the University of Birmingham, UK. He is the author of Race and Antiracism in Black British and British Asian Literature (Liverpool University Press, 2010).
Content
Series PrefaceChronology
IntroductionSome OmissionsColonial Spaces and Colonial IdeologiesGeneral Categories and Specific CasesPossible Unities and the Use of TheoryAbout this Book
Chapter One: Finding a VoiceMacaulay's MinuteTrading with Tradition: Derek WalcottWhere Language is Concealed: Eavan BolandThe Empire Writes BackVery Indian English: Nissim EzekielThe Language of the African Novel: Ngugi and AchebeThe Palm-oil with which Words are Eaten: Chinua Achebe, Things Fall ApartRotten English: Ken Saro-Wiwa, SozaboyMongrels and Silence: Keri Hulme, The Bone PeopleSummary
Chapter Two: The Need to BelongFrom Terra Nullius to the Mabo DecisionIn the Interior: Patrick White, VossImmemorial and Recent: Les MurrayThe Time of the Nation and the Space of the PeopleClaiming the City: Sam Selvon, The Lonely LondonersHating the Place you Love: James Berry, Windrush SongsNew Beginnings and Responsibilities: J.M Coetzee's DisgraceSummary
Chapter Three: Coming of Age, Coming into DifferenceNational AllegoryA Shadow of the Nation: Roddy Doyle, A Star Called HenryIn Two Minorities: Shyam Selvadurai, Funny BoyNatural and Ethical Behaviour: Shani Mootoo, Cereus Blooms at NightTrapped: Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous ConditionsInheritance and Accidents: Zadie Smith, White TeethSummary
Chapter Four: Communities, Values, TransgressionsLearning to Listen: Nadine Gordimer, Burger's DaughterAvoiding Historical Pitfalls: Thomas King, Truth and Bright WaterMotes in the Eye of History: Diaspora SpaceHow Newness Enters the World: Salman Rushdie, The Satanic VersesThe Rushdie Affair and the UmmaFaith with and without Agency: Leila Aboulela, MinaretNostalgia and Resistance: Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant FundamentalistSummary
Chapter Five: War ZonesFrantz Fanon and the Cleansing Power of ViolenceGhosts from the Future: V. S. Naipaul, A Bend in the RiverTrue Nationalism: Tahmima Anam, A Golden AgeA Ban on Wreaths: Agha Shahid Ali, The Country Without a Post OfficeStates of Exception, Biopolitics and NecropoliticsA Duty to Stay Alive: Chris Abani, 'Buffalo Women'Giving Your Life for the Truth: Michael Ondaatje, Anil's GhostSummary
Chapter Six: Challenging HistoriesA Scab on the Wounds of History: Anita Desai, Clear Light of DaySquaring History's Books: Arundhati Roy, The God of Small ThingsCan the Subaltern Speak?Made Noble in the Fire: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly GangThe Sort of Secrets you Could Use: Sally Morgan, My PlaceBeyond the Mesmeric Power of Tradition: The Black AtlanticNot Going Home: Caryl Phillips, The Atlantic SoundA Terror of Symbols: Amitav Ghosh, In an Antique LandSummary
Conclusion
Student ResourcesGuide to Further ReadingWriting about Postcolonial Literature
Index
IntroductionSome OmissionsColonial Spaces and Colonial IdeologiesGeneral Categories and Specific CasesPossible Unities and the Use of TheoryAbout this Book
Chapter One: Finding a VoiceMacaulay's MinuteTrading with Tradition: Derek WalcottWhere Language is Concealed: Eavan BolandThe Empire Writes BackVery Indian English: Nissim EzekielThe Language of the African Novel: Ngugi and AchebeThe Palm-oil with which Words are Eaten: Chinua Achebe, Things Fall ApartRotten English: Ken Saro-Wiwa, SozaboyMongrels and Silence: Keri Hulme, The Bone PeopleSummary
Chapter Two: The Need to BelongFrom Terra Nullius to the Mabo DecisionIn the Interior: Patrick White, VossImmemorial and Recent: Les MurrayThe Time of the Nation and the Space of the PeopleClaiming the City: Sam Selvon, The Lonely LondonersHating the Place you Love: James Berry, Windrush SongsNew Beginnings and Responsibilities: J.M Coetzee's DisgraceSummary
Chapter Three: Coming of Age, Coming into DifferenceNational AllegoryA Shadow of the Nation: Roddy Doyle, A Star Called HenryIn Two Minorities: Shyam Selvadurai, Funny BoyNatural and Ethical Behaviour: Shani Mootoo, Cereus Blooms at NightTrapped: Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous ConditionsInheritance and Accidents: Zadie Smith, White TeethSummary
Chapter Four: Communities, Values, TransgressionsLearning to Listen: Nadine Gordimer, Burger's DaughterAvoiding Historical Pitfalls: Thomas King, Truth and Bright WaterMotes in the Eye of History: Diaspora SpaceHow Newness Enters the World: Salman Rushdie, The Satanic VersesThe Rushdie Affair and the UmmaFaith with and without Agency: Leila Aboulela, MinaretNostalgia and Resistance: Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant FundamentalistSummary
Chapter Five: War ZonesFrantz Fanon and the Cleansing Power of ViolenceGhosts from the Future: V. S. Naipaul, A Bend in the RiverTrue Nationalism: Tahmima Anam, A Golden AgeA Ban on Wreaths: Agha Shahid Ali, The Country Without a Post OfficeStates of Exception, Biopolitics and NecropoliticsA Duty to Stay Alive: Chris Abani, 'Buffalo Women'Giving Your Life for the Truth: Michael Ondaatje, Anil's GhostSummary
Chapter Six: Challenging HistoriesA Scab on the Wounds of History: Anita Desai, Clear Light of DaySquaring History's Books: Arundhati Roy, The God of Small ThingsCan the Subaltern Speak?Made Noble in the Fire: Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly GangThe Sort of Secrets you Could Use: Sally Morgan, My PlaceBeyond the Mesmeric Power of Tradition: The Black AtlanticNot Going Home: Caryl Phillips, The Atlantic SoundA Terror of Symbols: Amitav Ghosh, In an Antique LandSummary
Conclusion
Student ResourcesGuide to Further ReadingWriting about Postcolonial Literature
Index