Colonial and Postcolonial Literature / Edition 2

by Elleke Boehmer

Overview

Colonial and Postcolonial Literature is the leading critical overview of and historical introduction to colonial and postcolonial literary studies. Highly praised from the time of its first publication for its lucidity, breadth, and insight, the book has itself played a crucial part in founding and shaping this rapidly expanding field. The author, an internationally renowned postcolonial critic, provides a broad contextualizing narrative about the evolution of colonial and postcolonial writing in English. Illuminating close readings of texts by a wide variety of writers--from Kipling and Conrad through to Kincaid, from Ngugi to Noonuccal and Naipaul--explicate key theoretical terms such as "subaltern," "colonial resistance," "writing back," and "hybridity." This revised edition includes new critiques of postcolonial women's writing, an expanded and fully annotated bibliography, and a new chapter and conclusion on postcolonialism exploring keynote debates in the field relating to sexuality, transnationalism, and local resistance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199253715
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/08/2005
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Elleke Boehmer is Hildred Carlile Professor in English at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Imperialism and Textuality
2. Colonialist Concerns
3. The Stirrings of New Nationalism
4. Metropolitans and Mimics
5. Independence
6. Postcolonialism
7. Transitional futures: the postcolonial book and the global world
Chronology of key events and publications
Notes
Further reading
Index

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the previous edition: "Boehmer's book is without any doubt a precious contribution. It provides a refreshingly readable, current, and knowledgeable account of the issues as the author displays an excellent grasp of the complexities of the subject."—Research in African Literatures

"A sustained, intelligent and refreshingly sceptical discussion about what constitutes the focus of postcolonial literary studies.... This is an excellent introduction."—Times Higher Education Supplement

"Boehmer presents a comprehensive, lucid, and nuanced account of both the literature of the British empire and the literature in opposition to empire....Colonial and Postcolonial Literature is as accessible to the newcomer to the field as it is useful to the specialist."—World Literature Today

From the Publisher