The Gothic, Postcolonialism and Otherness Ghosts from Elsewhere [Hardcover]

Starting with a re-examination of the role of the colonial/racial Other in mainstream Gothic (colonial) fiction, this book goes on to engage with the problem of narrating the 'subaltern' in the post-colonial context. It engages with the problems of representing 'difference' in lucid conceptual terms, with much attention to primary texts, and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of colonial discourses as well as postcolonialist attempts to 'write back.' While providing rich readings of Conrad, Kipling, Melville, Emily Bront?, Erna Brodber, Jean Rhys and others, it offers new perspectives on Otherness, difference and identity, re-examines the role of emotions in literature, and suggests productive ways of engaging with contemporary global and postcolonial issues.Acknowledgements Introduction: The Gothic, Postcolonialism and Otherness PART I: THE GOTHIC?AND OTHERNESS Ghosts from the Colonies The Devil and the Racial Other Heathcliff as Terrorist Smoke and Darkness: The Heart of Conrad Emotions and the Gothic PART II:?POSTCOLONIALISM?AND OTHERNESS Can the Other Speak? Negotiating Vodou: Some Caribbean Narratives of Otherness Can the 'Other half' be told?: Brodber's Myal The Option of Magical Realism Narration, Literary Language and the Post/Colonial Conclusion: Summing Up Notes Index

This is a very important book. But, before I attempt to describe some of this importance, I should also register that it is a joy to read: it is eloquent in ways which constantly surprise, yet should not, since its author is, as well as a critic, a poet and writer of fiction. The writing here is adventurous yet lucid, full of critical detail yet admirably concise...In conclusion: I found this a brilliant and most exciting book. In the subtitle, 'Ghosts from Elsewhere', I have no idea where this particular 'elsewhere' might be but perhaps that is the point. - David Punter, Gothic Studies

This is a fascinating, diverse and rich book which combines across the Golã/